On a vote of 220 to 209 of Wednesday, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana was elected House Speaker on the House floor. He won on the first vote.
All Democrats, including Alaska’s Rep. Mary Peltola, voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who is part of the far-left of the Democratic Party.
Johnson is a constitutional lawyer from Shreveport. He is succeeding more-moderate Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, who was ousted earlier this month by the more-conservative wing of the Republican caucus, who joined with Democrats to bounce him from the role he had held since January.
Three other nominees had failed to get enough votes in the Republican majority caucus to win on the floor.
Johnson released a statement:
“It is the honor of a lifetime to have been elected the 56th Speaker of the House.
“Thank you to my colleagues, friends, staff, and family for the unmatched support throughout this process. It has been an arduous few weeks, and a reminder that the House is as complicated and diverse as the people we represent. The urgency of this moment demands bold, decisive action to restore trust, advance our legislative priorities, and demonstrate good governance.
“Our House Republican Conference is united, and eager to work. As Speaker, I will ensure the House delivers results and inspires change for the American people. We will restore trust in this body. We will advance a comprehensive conservative policy agenda, combat the harmful policies of the Biden Administration, and support our allies abroad. And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it.
“Let’s get back to work.”
