World Courant
The Home Republican caucus kicked off the 119th US Congress with what’s turning into a daily supply of drama: a contentious speaker election.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) didn’t win reelection as Home Speaker within the first poll solid by representatives to find out who will lead the decrease chamber within the subsequent congressional cycle. The incoming Republican majorities first makes an attempt to elect a speaker had been foiled by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Ralph Norman (RS.C.), and Keith Self (R-Texas), who voted for Reps. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and Bryon Donalds (R-Fla.), respectively.
Forward of the vote, Johnson confronted a paper-thin margin to safe his reelection, any two no-votes (or one no and two abstentions) would tank the poll.
Massie publicly insisted he was voting “no” on Johnson forward of the primary poll, whereas a number of Republicans wouldn’t decide to voting for him. A bigger contingent of GOP members have been publicly essential of Johnson over the course of his 14-month tenure within the place.
When requested on Friday what it might imply if Republicans cannot elect Johnson on the primary poll, Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) informed CNN: “That we’re not prepared to manipulate. The folks of America have given us this chance and we’re not ready for it.”
Johnson does have Trump behind him, although. The president-elect has lengthy backed Johnson’s place as GOP Home chief. Final week, the president-elect reiterated his assist for the speaker after Republicans — led by billionaire Elon Musk — revolted in opposition to a proposed funding bundle negotiated by Johnson.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is an effective, arduous working, spiritual man,” Trump wrote. “He’ll do the correct factor, and we’ll proceed to WIN.”
The connection between the 2 males appears to stay optimistic. On Friday, Trump wished Johnson the perfect within the vote. “Good luck at the moment for Speaker Mike Johnson, a effective man of nice capability, who could be very near having 100% assist,” he wrote on Fact Social. “A win for Mike at the moment will probably be an enormous win for the Republican Occasion, and yet one more acknowledgment of our 129th 12 months’s most consequential Presidential Election!! – A BIG AFFIRMATION, INDEED. MAGA!”
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Johnson is hoping the endorsement from Trump will assist him cross the end line, telling Fox Information that Republicans “can’t afford any palace drama.” However the opposition to Johnson’s management relies much less on his relationship with Trump, and extra with GOP rancor over messy funding battles all through the course of his tenure, and accusations that Johnson steadily capitulates to Democratic appropriations calls for.
“For months Democrats ignored the truth that Joe Biden was a potato,” Massie wrote on X final week. “They satisfied themselves that retaining him round was the pragmatic method to win the day. Too late did they admit the emperor had no garments. Republicans are doing the identical factor by retaining Speaker Mike Johnson.”
On Thursday, Rep. Massie informed One America Information that “you’ll be able to pull all my finger nails out, you’ll be able to shove bamboo up in them, you can begin slicing off my fingers, I’m not voting for Mike Johnson.” In a separate submit on X, Massie argued that the caucus has “seen Johnson associate with the democrats to ship cash to Ukraine, authorize spying on Individuals, and blow the finances.”
Johnson has vowed to dig in by way of quite a few ballots with a purpose to retain the gavel. Contemplating the obvious absence of anybody who might problem him, he could also be more likely to put on his detractors down and lead Home Republicans underneath Trump’s second time period in workplace. Regardless, the Home GOP has kicked off 2025 by persevering with its custom of dysfunction.
Mike Johnson Loses First Poll in Home Speaker Election
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