WASHINGTON:
The first day of the new US Congress erupted in chaos as right-wing Republican rebels blocked Mike Johnson’s bid to return as Speaker of the House, defying incoming President Donald Trump’s backing.
Johnson, a Louisiana congressman, needed a majority to be elected Speaker, who oversees House proceedings and is second in line for the presidency. However, Republican divisions led to an inability to elect a speaker on the first ballot, triggering concerns of further dysfunction within the party, reminiscent of the previous two years’ struggles.
The vote exposed Trump’s limited influence over House Republicans for a second time, following his failure to secure a suspension of the national debt ceiling in December. With Trump’s presidential inauguration approaching, the stakes were high as the House remained stalled without a speaker, delaying the certification of Trump’s victory.
Despite Johnson’s strong push with Trump’s support, he failed to secure the necessary votes, falling short by a few. The contest is now set for a second round of voting, but Johnson risks losing Trump’s support if the delay continues, opening the door for other moderate Republicans to seek alternatives.
Johnson, who has previously worked across the aisle to negotiate with Democrats, alienated many conservatives in the process. His failure to unify his party, particularly among fiscal conservatives, has further weakened his position. Although Johnson won the first round with 216 votes, it wasn’t enough, and three Republicans abstained from voting for him.
Once a relatively unknown figure, Johnson rose to prominence during the effort to challenge the results of the 2020 election. His uncontroversial nature allowed him to gain the Speaker’s position in 2023, but now, critics argue his lack of a strong leadership track record has led to dissatisfaction within his party.
The last time a speaker vote required multiple rounds was in January 2023, with the last instance before that occurring over a century ago in 1923.
