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House speaker vote live updates: Mike Johnson makes spending commitments to holdout lawmakers as voting begins

President-elect Donald Trump’s ally battling to retain gavel as Congress reconvenes on Friday

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad
Friday 03 January 2025 18:37 GMT
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Donald Trump backs Mike Johnson in House speaker election

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Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson is bracing for what could be a fraught battle today as he seeks to hang on to the gavel as the 119th Congress begins.

Despite having the full-throated endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump, the Louisiana Representative can only afford one Republican rebellion against his re-election bid when the lower chamber’s members cast their votes, so tight is the GOP’s 219 to 211 majority over the Democrats.

One congressman, Thomas Massie, has already stressed his objections to Johnson, telling One America News’s Matt Gaetz Show that he would not back the incumbent.

“You can pull all my fingernails out, you can shove bamboo up in them, you can start cutting off my fingers,” Massie said.

“I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow.”

Several of his colleagues have likewise said they are unconvinced by Johnson or will require major concessions in exchange for supporting him. As the House convened, the speaker released a statement, making commitments to those holdouts regarding spending, which swayed Rep Victoria Spartz.

The alphabetical roll call vote is now underway...

Pinned

Watch LIVE: Opening Day of 119th Congress

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 17:15
2 minutes ago

Delegate Stacey Plaskett of the US Virgin Islands criticizes the fact that the District of Columbia and US commonwealths like USVI, Guam, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere did not get to have their voices heard. They collectively represent 4 million Americans.

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 18:37
4 minutes ago

Waltz did not respond in this first round of voting.

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 18:35
9 minutes ago

Johnson loses a third Republican member as Rep Keith Self votes for Rep Byron Donalds.

This is not looking good for the speaker.

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 18:30
11 minutes ago

Two Republicans have voted for someone other than Johnson. He could only lose one.

Votes can still change and several Republican members have not voted.

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 18:28
13 minutes ago

Rep Chip Roy stays silent when called to vote, standing in the middle of the aisle.

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 18:26
15 minutes ago

Rep Andy Ogles and Rep Scott Perry, possible holdouts, both vote for Johnson.

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 18:24
16 minutes ago

Rep Ralph Norman votes for Rep Jim Jordan.

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 18:23
18 minutes ago

Watch: Jeffries and Johnson vote for themselves to applause from members

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 18:21
20 minutes ago

Rep Thomas Massie — always a confirmed vote against Johnson — votes for Rep Tom Emmer.

Oliver O'Connell3 January 2025 18:18

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