Before the new Congress can take any action, such as certifying Donald J. Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election, the House must elect a speaker in a vote scheduled for Friday.
For decades, it was mostly a formality, no drama. But two years ago, a Republican revolt extended the process to four painful days and 15 contentious votes, exposing divisions within the party and setting the stage for a combative Congress.
Louisiana House Speaker Mike Johnson won unanimous support from House Republicans in November for reappointment as Speaker of the House. Supported by Trump. However, he faces resistance from far-right members of his party and his re-election is not certain, given that his slim majority may leave only one candidate left to defect.
Johnson acknowledged on “Fox & Friends” Thursday that he only needs to lose “one or two” Republican votes on Friday if he wants to win the gavel.
No Republicans have emerged to challenge Mr. Johnson, and Republicans face overwhelming pressure to conclude the process quickly by the end of the year so that Congress can certify Mr. Trump’s election as scheduled on Monday.
But at least one Republican has already said he will not support Johnson, and others have expressed concerns about his leadership. If Mr Johnson is unable to cobble together a majority, the House of Commons could face a deadlock similar to the one in 2023, with MPs potentially needing several votes before finally selecting a speaker. There is sex.
Here’s how it works:
Johnson needs a majority to be elected.
Choosing a new Speaker is the first task of the House of Representatives after a new Congress convenes. This issue also arises before newly elected representatives are sworn in and must be resolved before other issues are addressed.
Around noon, lawmakers will gather in the House chamber and leaders of each party will nominate candidates. Republicans are expected to nominate Johnson, while Democrats plan to nominate their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
The House Clerk then proceeds to an alphabetical roll call vote, with each member responding by name. It could be Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jeffries, or any name, including someone who is not a member, if the member wishes to submit a protest vote.
The criterion for election is a majority of members present and voting. If all 435 members of the House of Representatives participate, the number is 218. However, vacancies and absenteeism can complicate calculations.
With the resignation of former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Republicans will now hold a total of 219 seats and Democrats will hold 215 seats. That means Mr. Johnson would be allowed to lose just one Republican vote if all members were present and voted.
Mr Johnson could still win the chairman’s seat even if he lacks majority support. He could persuade members who oppose him to “present” and vote rather than nominate someone else, or he could simply “take a walk” and miss the vote altogether. .
That’s not unusual. Two years ago, Kevin McCarthy won the gavel on the 15th ballot with just 216 votes. In 2015, John Boehner was elected speaker with 216 votes, and Nancy Pelosi was elected speaker in 2021.
If he falls short, the deadlocked House must continue to vote.
If Mr Johnson does not receive enough votes in the first round, he will likely negotiate with the resistance and make concessions in exchange for support. Mr. McCarthy has succumbed to ultra-conservatives who insist on holding key positions that give them influence over what legislation is introduced, and a provision that allows one lawmaker to move to remove him from office. , thus hamstrung his own status as a speaker.
No other Republicans have officially announced their bid for speaker, but a challenger could emerge. One name that keeps coming up is Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, co-founder and former chairman of the far-right House Freedom Caucus. In the October 2023 presidential election following McCarthy’s ouster, he lost and Johnson won the post in his place.
No matter what happens, the House will have to keep voting until someone wins a majority.
One defector has already emerged. More may follow.
At least one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, has vowed to vote against Johnson despite Trump’s support.
Another critic, Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz, was unfazed by the president-elect’s support. suggested that her vote would be swayed As to whether Mr. Johnson is satisfied. her series of requestswhich includes a crackdown on government spending.
Several far-right Republicans, including Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, and Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, a former leader of the House Freedom Caucus, have declined to say whether they support Mr. Johnson. are.
If a speaker is not selected, President Trump’s certification could be delayed.
Mr. Trump has an ambitious legislative agenda, and Republican leaders in Congress have made it clear they want to get started quickly. But without a chair, the House would not be able to debate bills or swear in members. Until the election is decided, the House of Representatives will be as effectively useless as it was in early 2023.
If the chairman is not seated by Monday, there will be repercussions for Mr. Trump himself. Without a functioning House, Congress could not meet its constitutionally mandated joint session on January 6 to certify the results of the 2024 presidential election. Mr. Johnson has reminded Republicans of that fact early and often.