Welcome to the new session of Congress, live blog readers.
Today at 12pm ET, the House of Representatives will begin the process of electing a new speaker, which could drag on for days if incumbent leader Mike Johnson cannot unify the Republican conference.
Johnson easily won his conference’s speaker nomination in November, but House Republicans’ narrow majority and the recent, highly contentious negotiations over a government funding package have imperiled his bid.
With former representative Matt Gaetz’s seat remaining vacant for now, Republicans have 219 House seats to Democrats’ 215. That means that, assuming every House member is in attendance and voting for a speaker candidate, Johnson can only afford a single Republican defection and still keep the gavel.
One House Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, has already indicated he will not support Johnson on the first ballot today.
“You can pull all my fingernails out; you can shove bamboo up in them; you can start cutting off my fingers,” Massie told Gaetz, who is now a host for One America News, in an interview yesterday. “I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow, and you can take that to the bank.”
Now the question becomes whether one other Republican will join Massie. Given the dozens of Republicans who remain outraged over Johnson’s attempt to pass a bipartisan funding deal with Democratic support last month, his victory is far from guaranteed.
Although speakership races have historically been straightforward affairs with little drama involved, that all changed in 2023, when the speakership election of the new Congress stretched on for days. It took Kevin McCarthy, Republicans’ speaker nominee, 15 ballots to capture the gavel, and he was ousted from his post just nine months later.
But Johnson has one major advantage heading into the vote: an endorsement from Donald Trump. The president-elect threw his support behind Johnson on Monday, and he doubled down on the endorsement in a post on Truth Social this morning.
“Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support,” Trump said. “A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party.”
Will Trump’s endorsement be enough to get Johnson across the finish line? The outcome remains unclear, so stay tuned.
Key events
If the House cannot elect a speaker on the first ballot this afternoon, then all business of the chamber will grind to a halt until a leader is chosen.
In October 2023, after Republican Kevin McCarthy was removed from the speaker’s chair, it took weeks to elect his replacement, leaving the House unable to consider any legislation for most of the month.
The stakes of the speakership race will be even higher given the chamber’s crucial business this month. House members cannot be formally sworn in for the new session of Congress until a speaker is chosen, and the chamber needs to certify the results of the presidential election in just three days.
House to vote on new speaker today
Welcome to the new session of Congress, live blog readers.
Today at 12pm ET, the House of Representatives will begin the process of electing a new speaker, which could drag on for days if incumbent leader Mike Johnson cannot unify the Republican conference.
Johnson easily won his conference’s speaker nomination in November, but House Republicans’ narrow majority and the recent, highly contentious negotiations over a government funding package have imperiled his bid.
With former representative Matt Gaetz’s seat remaining vacant for now, Republicans have 219 House seats to Democrats’ 215. That means that, assuming every House member is in attendance and voting for a speaker candidate, Johnson can only afford a single Republican defection and still keep the gavel.
One House Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, has already indicated he will not support Johnson on the first ballot today.
“You can pull all my fingernails out; you can shove bamboo up in them; you can start cutting off my fingers,” Massie told Gaetz, who is now a host for One America News, in an interview yesterday. “I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow, and you can take that to the bank.”
Now the question becomes whether one other Republican will join Massie. Given the dozens of Republicans who remain outraged over Johnson’s attempt to pass a bipartisan funding deal with Democratic support last month, his victory is far from guaranteed.
Although speakership races have historically been straightforward affairs with little drama involved, that all changed in 2023, when the speakership election of the new Congress stretched on for days. It took Kevin McCarthy, Republicans’ speaker nominee, 15 ballots to capture the gavel, and he was ousted from his post just nine months later.
But Johnson has one major advantage heading into the vote: an endorsement from Donald Trump. The president-elect threw his support behind Johnson on Monday, and he doubled down on the endorsement in a post on Truth Social this morning.
“Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support,” Trump said. “A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party.”
Will Trump’s endorsement be enough to get Johnson across the finish line? The outcome remains unclear, so stay tuned.
In a dramatic turn of events, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s leadership is in jeopardy as the House of Representatives prepares to vote on his continued speakership. Rumors of discontent within the caucus have been swirling for weeks, with some members questioning Johnson’s ability to effectively lead the chamber.
As the tension mounts, all eyes are on the House floor as members prepare to cast their votes. Will Johnson be able to rally enough support to maintain his position as Speaker, or will this be the end of his tenure?
Stay tuned for live updates as the House of Representatives decides the fate of Mike Johnson’s speakership.
The US House of Representatives will begin its new session on Friday with a dramatic speakership vote that could either cement Republican Mike Johnson’s leadership or plunge Congress into turmoil, as Republican dissent threatens his hold on power.
As the House’s first order of business – which is scheduled to begin around noon Eastern time – members must elect a speaker before they can be sworn in. Each representative will stand to declare their choice in a roll call vote, with Johnson needing a majority of all members voting to secure victory.
Johnson faces a close mathematical path to victory. With Republicans holding a slim 219-215 majority, and Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie already declaring his opposition, Johnson can’t afford to lose a single additional vote without risking multiple rounds of voting reminiscent of last session’s speaker election chaos.
Assuming all 434 current House members participate (there is one vacancy), Johnson needs 218 votes to win. With Democrats expected to unite behind their leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and Massie planning to vote against him, Johnson starts with exactly 218 potential votes – the bare minimum needed. Any additional defection would deny him a majority and force a second ballot.
However, members can vote “present” instead of naming a candidate, which would lower the threshold needed for victory by reducing the total number of votes cast for candidates.
Several prominent Republicans remain noncommittal, including Texas representative Chip Roy, Arizona representative Andy Biggs, Pennsylvania representative Scott Perry, Indiana representative Victoria Spartz and House Freedom caucus chair Andy Harris from Maryland – despite Johnson receiving Donald Trump’s endorsement earlier this week.
Johnson’s team has reportedly been working frantically behind the scenes, conducting last-minute negotiations with various Republican factions to secure their support.
Much of his support came tumbling down in the last year, after helping Democrats usher in billions of aid to Ukraine in the spring against conservative wishes and caving to billionaire GOP mega-donor Elon Musk for compromises on short-term government spending last month.
Because of those deals, some Republicans including Spartz are seeking assurances on cuts to government spending to deliver on Trump’s agenda.
“If Speaker Johnson wants to be speaker, then he needs to lay out a plan and commit to that plan, not like what he did last year,” Spartz said on Fox News earlier this week. “I can give him a chance, but I would like to hear from him how he’s going to be delivering this agenda.”
If Johnson fails to secure a majority on the first ballot, the House would enter a state of limbo, unable to conduct any other business until a speaker is elected.
The last speaker election in January 2023 required 15 rounds of voting before former speaker Kevin McCarthy was confirmed. Johnson emerged as a compromise candidate in October of that year following McCarthy’s removal from the position, when eight Republicans went rogue to vote alongside Democrats – the first such ouster in American political history.
As the US House of Representatives begins a new session with a crucial vote looming, all eyes are on Mike Johnson as he faces a leadership test. Johnson, a Republican congressman from Louisiana, has been a prominent figure in the House and has often been touted as a potential rising star in the GOP.
With the House set to vote on key legislation that could have far-reaching implications for the country, Johnson’s leadership skills will truly be put to the test. As the Chair of the Republican Study Committee, he will play a pivotal role in rallying support for the party’s agenda and ensuring that they can effectively push through their priorities.
The outcome of this vote could have a significant impact on Johnson’s political future and his standing within the party. Will he be able to successfully navigate the challenges ahead and emerge as a strong and effective leader, or will he falter under the pressure?
Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – all eyes will be on Mike Johnson as the US House of Representatives begins its new session with a vote that could shape the course of the country for years to come. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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General Benj. F. Butler of Massachusetts understands the importance of rewards for the detection of crime, as evidenced by his speech upon the frauds on the revenues of the House of Representatives on June 19, 1874. He recognizes that without proper incentives, individuals may be hesitant to come forward with information that could help solve criminal cases.
Offering rewards for the detection of crime serves multiple purposes. Not only does it encourage members of the community to actively participate in the criminal justice process, but it also helps to ensure that justice is served and that criminals are held accountable for their actions. Rewards can also help to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the public, fostering a sense of cooperation and collaboration in the fight against crime.
In conclusion, the necessity of rewards for the detection of crime cannot be understated. General Benj. F. Butler’s speech highlights the importance of incentivizing individuals to come forward with valuable information that can help solve criminal cases and maintain order in society. By offering rewards, we can empower individuals to take an active role in fighting crime and ensuring the safety and security of our communities.
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