Mike Johnson Falls Short in First Round of House Speaker Vote as Three Republicans Defect Despite Trump Endorsement

Jan 3, 2025, 06:32 PM

Mike Johnson, the current House Speaker, failed to secure enough votes to retain his position in the first round of voting for the 119th Congress. With a narrow Republican majority of 219 to 215 Democrats, Johnson needed 218 votes to win. However, three Republican representatives, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Keith Self of Texas, voted for alternative candidates, Tom Emmer, Jim Jordan, and Byron Donalds respectively, leaving Johnson short of the required majority. The vote marks a significant challenge for Johnson, who was endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, as the House will continue to vote until a speaker is elected.