The 119th Congress will be sworn in Friday with Republicans officially becoming the majority in both chambers as House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a vote to retain the speakership. Follow here for the latest live news updates.
, but he could be presented with a challenge as some Republicans took issue with the deals he made to get a. He can afford to lose only one GOP vote if every lawmaker shows up and votes. Republican Rep.
Ogles, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, is among a group of members pushing for commitments from Johnson in the 119th Congress. Asked about his personal priorities, Ogles said he wants Congress to pay for any emergency spending, such as natural disaster relief or international aid.
That leaves 434 members with 219 Republicans and 215 Democrats. If all 434 vote, it takes 218 to win. “Just the nature of this. So that’s fine. It will take two or three,” he said of his prediction for how many rounds it takes for Johnson to win. The president-elect confirmed CNN’s reporting that he had been in touch with Republican holdouts, including GOP Rep. Chip Roy. When asked what he was telling these Republicans, Trump said he wasn’t “telling them anything.”
Mike Johnson is vying to retain the gavel and has President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement, but he faces tough vote math with the That leaves 434 members with 219 Republicans and 215 Democrats. If all 434 vote, it takes 218 to win. In recent days, the speaker has been having conversations with the roughly half dozen GOP holdouts about process deforms – such as voting on single-issue spending bills or reforming the suspension calendar. The Freedom Caucus, in particular, has a list of demands related to cutting spending and chamber processes.
“I’m talking with all members and telling them we need to unify so we can move the Trump agenda,” Johnson told reporters.House Speaker Mike Johnson walks following the passage of a spending legislation to avert a government shutdown on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on December 20.Speaker Mike Johnson will face a major challenge in the new Congress – the narrowest House majority in nearly 100 years. That is, if he can keep the gavel.
Rep. Jim Jordan is interviewed by FOX and Friends at the US Capitol on January 3, 2025 in Washington, DC.told Fox News “I think so,” when asked if he thinks Johnson will have the votes to remain speaker in today’s vote. When asked if he thought any of his other colleagues besides Johnson would want the job, Green responded “most of the folks I talk to that are super confident would not want the job, especially with this majority,” adding “this is the toughest job in America, I am convinced of that.”told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” he’s still undecided on whether he’ll vote for Johnson as speaker, stating “I’ll be praying about it and I’ll make my decision according to that.
The convening of the 119th Congress, therefore, represents the first day of Washington’s new Trump era with Republicans aiming to produce tangible results as soon as he steps back into the Oval Office on January 20. Rep. Thomas Massie listens as the House Rules Committee prepares a bill at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on June 12.House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan told CNN that he believes GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky could be the only person willing to vote against House Speaker Mike Johnson on the floor on Friday.
Jordan didn’t rule out supporting process reforms that some of the holdouts are seeking from Johnson. Trump’s endorsement could help Johnson shore up support, especially after the speaker navigated a chaotic government funding fight earlier this month that drew the ire of his right flank. But with a historically small majority in the new Congress, Johnson can afford only a single Republican defection when the House picks a new speaker if every member votes.House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he hopes to win on one ballot today, even as multiple GOP lawmakers remain uncommitted.
Whether that posture changes remains to be seen since Johnson’s allies are uncertain whether he can win the speakership on the first ballot on Friday. Many of the decisions on what — if any — deals need to be cut will be made once vote-counting begins and the speaker and his team get a clear sense of which Republicans are withholding their support.
The clerk calls for nominations, and members-elect nominate candidates. GOP Rep. Lisa McClain is expected to give the speech for House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar will for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, according to a source familiar.
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