Mike Johnson wins reelection as House speaker in dramatic vote to open new Congress

Johnson said he took "suggestions and requests from all members on process reforms" but "there were no deals cut" to secure the gavel. 

"We made no deals to anyone, no quid pro quo for anybody on any position or anything at all through the entire — I haven't done that in 14 months and I was not about to start today," he said. 

The Louisiana Republican said he was "100%" confident that he will remain speaker throughout the entire 119th Congress. 

The House voted 215 to 209 to adopt new rules to govern the lower chamber for the next two years. 

House Republicans released their proposed rules package on Wednesday, which included a number of changes to the rules that governed the House during the last two years. 

In an attempt to avoid some of the chaos that plagued the Republican majority in the last Congress, Republicans raised the threshold to force a vote on ousting the House speaker to nine GOP members. The previous threshold was one member. 

Leadership unveiled a new package Friday that added, "The Speaker may not entertain a motion that the House suspend the rules except on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays." Under suspension of the rules, House leaders can bring legislation to the floor without going through the Rules Committee, where a handful of conservatives have blocked legislation from advancing in recent years. The procedure is often used to fast-track legislation that has bipartisan support since it requires two-thirds of the chamber to pass. The new rules would prohibit that from taking place on Thursdays and Fridays. 

The package also eliminates the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, restores "family-centric language" and authorizes subpoenas of Attorney General Merrick Garland and other Justice Department officials as part of Republicans' investigations into the Biden family.  

It also changes the name of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and renames the Office of Congressional Ethics to the Office of Congressional Conduct. 

Rep. Ralph Norman, the other GOP holdout, confirmed that he spoke with Trump before switching his vote, and received "assurances" that Johnson would "fight."

"We had a talk with President Trump. We got in there — I never know how this stuff's going to come out. I didn't know how people were going to vote," he told CBS News.  

"Mike gave us his assurances he's going to fight for the things we think are important to the country," he added. "And was it worth taking another hour? Yes. And so, I'm excited with the way it came out, and Mike is too."

Johnson spoke to a group of reporters at the Capitol and described his conversations with Self and Norman, the Republicans who switched their votes.

"I told them they can be assured that we're going to have different processes and procedures this time around, because it's unified government, and Republicans have control of the Senate and the White House and the House, so it's a very different situation than last Congress was, and they can hold me accountable for that," the speaker said. 

"We're going to have a member-driven, bottom-up process for the development of this really important legislation. And we must succeed, we have no margin for error. So, that's all it was. No promises," Johnson added.

Johnson confirmed to CBS News that he spoke with Trump while the speakership vote was being held open. Trump's message, Johnson said, was: "Get united."

Rep. Keith Self, one of the two initial Johnson holdouts, told reporters that he spoke to Trump "before and after" his vote. He declined to discuss many specifics, but said, "We shored up the reconciliation team, because we know that this will be a heavy lift to get the Trump agenda across the line in the reconciliation package." 

"We shored up the negotiating team. That's all we did," Self said.

Republicans hope to use the reconciliation maneuver to advance much of Trump's agenda in the coming months. But doing so is complicated and requires coordination between lawmakers in both chambers and the White House. 

Self replied "yes" when asked if the reconciliation negotiating team would now include some Freedom Caucus members and be more "member-inclusive."

"I was very frustrated with the 118th Congress, and that's why we needed to shore up the processes to make it more member-oriented for the Trump agenda, because we needed more input from members like myself, not a chairman, not [those] in a leadership position, and I think that's what we have done," Self said.

Eleven members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus wrote a letter to their Republican House colleagues explaining that they have reservations about Johnson despite backing him for speaker. The group outlined a list of demands that they urged Johnson to address.

The members — Reps. Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Scott Perry, Andy Harris, Andy Biggs, Clay Higgins, Michael Cloud, Andy Ogles, Eli Crane, Eric Burlison and Andrew Clyde — wrote that they voted for Johnson  "because of our steadfast support of President Trump and to ensure the timely certification of his electors" on Jan. 6. But they added that they did so "despite our sincere reservations regarding the Speaker's track record over the past 15 months."

They said Johnson should have committed to keeping the House in session for more days, and ensured that any reconciliation package reduces spending and the deficit. They also stressed that Johnson should have guaranteed that members can offer amendments on legislation and abide by a rule giving them 72 hours to review legislation before a vote, and stop relying heavily on Democratic support to pass key legislation. 

"Now, Speaker Johnson must prove he will not fail to enact President Trump's bold agenda," they continued. 

The group said legislation that comes before the chamber should work to "fully secure the border," cut spending significantly and reverse Biden administration policies like student loans forgiveness and electric vehicle mandates. They also argued that legislation should not increase the federal borrowing limit before "real spending cuts are agreed to and in place," among other things. 

"Personalities can be debated later, but right now there is zero room for error on the policies the American people demanded when they voted for President Trump — the ones necessary to save the country," the group wrote. "We demand the House of Representatives deliver — quickly."

Johnson administered the oath of office to all House members after he made remarks and was sworn in. There are 434 members, including Johnson, and one vacancy left by Matt Gaetz, who resigned after he was asked to join the Trump administration. Though Gaetz withdrew from consideration to be attorney general, he also decided not to take his seat in the 119th Congress. 

Johnson opened his speech to the assembled House by saying he was grateful to continue in the role. 

"I'm grateful for this election, for the confidence this chamber has placed in me. It is the great honor of my life to serve this body with all of you," he said. 

Johnson said "our nation is the envy of the world" and touted individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets and human dignity. 

He said Republicans have a mandate to carry out an "America First" agenda and they will start by defending the country's borders. 

"We will deport dangerous, criminal, illegal aliens," he said, "and finish building the border wall." 

Johnson also vowed to fight inflation, extend Trump-era tax cuts, expedite new drilling permits, end "ridiculous" electric vehicle mandates and drastically cut the size of the federal government. 

"Our people do not deserve to be ruled by millions of bureaucrats they've never voted for, never met and can never hold accountable," he said. "The American people have called on us to reject business as usual and throw out the status quo. We must and we will heed their call." 

He also touched on the divide within his party, saying the nation "is counting on us to band together and solve these problems and get this done." 

After his remarks, Johnson took the oath of office and swore in the rest of the House.

Trump posted on Truth Social soon after the vote was official:

"Congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson for receiving an unprecedented Vote of Confidence in Congress. Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary. The People of America have waited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership. They'll get it now, and America will be greater than ever before!"

Jeffries, the House minority leader, introduced Johnson, as is customary after a speaker's election. 

"It is now my responsibility to present the gavel to the gentleman from the great state of Louisiana," Jeffries said, calling Johnson "a God-fearing man."

Before introducing him, Jeffries spoke about his party and its posture, saying "the election is over, this is a new Congress." He added that "the American people need us as their elected representatives in this season to put down our partisan swords" and instead choose bipartisanship. 

Jeffries pledged that House Democrats would work to find common ground with Republicans to make life better for Americans. He said that the chamber should come together to lower the cost of living in the United States "once and for all." He also pledged that Democrats would work in a bipartisan manner to address border security. But he acknowledged that Democrats would push back when needed. 

The New York Democrat earned scattered applause from Republicans throughout his remarks, especially on the economy, while many audibly moaned after his remarks on working across party lines on border security. And when Jeffries praised the Biden-Harris administration for its "powerful, principled" work and service over the last four years, some Republicans laughed. 

"Democrats will never abandon the long walk toward freedom," Jeffries said.

Jeffries also honored former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who injured her hip last month, welcoming her back to the chamber. The bulk of lawmakers, including many Republicans, stood to applaud her return. 

In a surprise reversal, Johnson has secured support for his speakership on the first ballot, with 218 Republicans supporting his bid of the 434 members voting. He needed a majority of the voting members of the chamber to win the gavel. Jeffries had 215 votes from Democrats, while three Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie, Keith Self and Ralph Norman — initially voted for other members of their party, before Self and Norman changed their votes. 

In a stunning scene on the House floor, Johnson huddled with the members who had opposed his bid, the chamber sitting in limbo while the vote tally went uncalled. After meeting with Johnson and other Republicans, Norman and Self walked to the dais of the chamber to switch their votes, with Johnson by their side.

House Republicans gave Johnson a standing ovation as the clerk made the count official. 

The result avoided a repeat of the beginning of the last Congress, when a group of conservative detractors opposed Kevin McCarthy's bid for speaker, marking the first time in a century that a speaker failed to win support on the first round. With a narrow majority, Johnson faces many of the same challenges as the embattled former speaker. But Johnson eked out the necessary support on Friday. 

Rep. Ralph Norman and Keith Self switched their votes to Johnson, giving him the 218 votes he needs.

The speaker huddled with a number of Republicans as the vote wrapped and the chamber waited for the tally to be officially called, including the three men who voted against him — Self, Massie and Norman. 

With the caveat that the vote is still open and they could technically change their votes, three House conservatives supported candidates other than Johnson in the first round.

Heading into the vote, roughly a dozen Republicans were seen as key for Johnson's hopes. Here's how they voted:

• Rep. Andy Biggs
of Arizona – Mike Johnson 
• Rep. Lauren Boebert
of Colorado – Mike Johnson 
• Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee – Mike Johnson
• Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri – Mike Johnson
• Rep. Mike Cloud of Texas – Mike Johnson
• Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia – Mike Johnson
• Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona – Mike Johnson
• Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland – Mike Johnson
• Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky – Tom Emmer
• Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina – Jim Jordan
• Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee – Mike Johnson
• Rep. Chip Roy of Texas - Mike Johnson
• Rep. Keith Self of Texas – Byron Donalds
• Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana – Mike Johnson

The vote has not been officially gaveled out, but Johnson, as it stands, is short of the 218 votes he needs. Six Republicans who initially skipped voting ended up supporting the speaker, but three others voted for other candidates, leaving Johnson with 216. He could only afford to lose the support of one Republican.

Until the vote is finalized, members can change their votes.

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who was seen as a crucial vote before Friday, supported Johnson when given a second opportunity to vote. The Republican had said he was undecided heading into the vote. 

Rep. Keith Self of Texas became the third Republican to defy Johnson by voting for Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida. 

Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina voted for Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, in a second defection for Johnson.

The vote means Johnson is on track to lose in the first round of balloting.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, the only Republican who vowed before the vote to hold his support from Johnson, voted instead for Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the majority whip. 

Massie is the first Republican to vote for someone other than Johnson, who smiled and laughed when Massie said his vote.

Johnson can't afford any other defections.

Minutes after predicting that the election would go multiple rounds, Rep. Tim Burchett voted for Johnson on the first ballot.

Rep. Andy Biggs, Mike Cloud, Andrew Clyde and Paul Gosar declined to vote when their names were called, but they will get another opportunity at the end of the voting.

Members are now being called in alphabetical order to say aloud who they support for speaker. With 434 members in attendance, Johnson needs 218 votes to win on the first ballot.

Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, predicted Johnson would not win on the first ballot: 

Burchett is one of the Republicans who has been undecided about how he'll vote. If he and Massie vote for another candidate, Johnson won't have the votes needed for a majority on the first ballot.

Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar of California nominated Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on behalf of his party, which he called the "governing majority."

Aguilar argued that "there is only one leader in this chamber" with the track record and ability to lead, saying that under Jeffries' leadership, House Democrats have united to keep the government funded, U.S. allies protected and the economy secure. 

"Because of Hakeem's leadership, we will never abandon our values or sacrifice our bedrock principles of freedom and democracy," Aguilar said. 

During the 2023 speaker fight, Democrats nominated Jeffries during each of the 15 rounds it took for McCarthy to secure the gavel.

GOP conference chair Lisa McClain is nominating Johnson for speaker, delivering a speech in support of his continued leadership.

"We have the opportunity to put America first again," McClain said, following the November election and with a Republican trifecta in Washington, arguing that Johnson is the right leader to move the chamber forward. 

"No speaker is perfect, and no one will ever be," she continued. "However, achieving perfection requires incremental gains and hard decisions along the way."

McCalin said "we should be celebrating and building upon his efforts, our efforts," and that "Mike has remained the same kind and caring person as he was before he assumed this role."

The bulk of Republicans in the chamber rose following the nominating speech. Roy remained seated. 

Johnson pledged a "return to fiscal sanity," writing on X that if Republicans "don't follow through on our campaign promise for fiscal responsibility, we don't deserve to hold power." 

"Along with advancing President Trump's America First agenda, I will lead the House Republicans to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, hold the bureaucracy accountable, and move the United States to a more sustainable fiscal trajectory," he wrote.

He laid out three steps he plans to take to achieve the goal: creating a group of independent experts to recommend spending reforms, reviewing existing audits of federal agencies and entities and tasking House committees with exposing "irresponsible or illegal practices." 

The pledge comes as conservatives have threatened to hold their support from electing him as speaker as they seek deeper cuts in government spending. 

Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, a potential holdout, said she appreciated Johnson's promise to deliver on Trump's agenda, signaling that she could vote for him. 

In the Senate chamber, Vice President Kamala Harris, in her role as president of the Senate, led the swearing in of all 32 senators who were elected in November. 

The senators, including the 12 new members, took the oath in groups of four and vowed to "well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which you are about to enter, so help you God."

The newly sworn-in senators then signed an oath book vowing to defend the Constitution.

The 119th Congress began with a call to order by the House clerk, followed by a prayer led by the chaplain as lawmakers bowed their heads in reverence. They then recited the pledge of allegiance and began a quorum call ordered by the clerk. 

The chamber is abuzz as lawmakers, after a long campaign season, greet each other excitedly ahead of the speaker vote. 

The speaker officially adjourned the 118th Congress with the pound of his gavel, as the new one is set to get underway. The 118th Congress began with a 15-round speaker battle, christened by a chaos that seemed to define it.

The House will formally adjourn the 118th session "sine die," or "without a day," just before noon, marking the end of the current Congress. The 119th Congress will then begin at 12 p.m.

Here's the rough rundown for how the rest of the day is expected to play out:

• Call to order by the House clerk
• Prayer led by the chaplain
• Pledge of allegiance led by the clerk
• Quorum call ordered by the clerk, conducted electronically
• Speaker election ordered by the clerk
• Nominating speeches — traditionally, the chairs of the Democratic caucus and GOP conference deliver these.
• GOP conference chair Lisa McClain of Michigan will nominate Johnson
• Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar of California will nominate Hakeem Jeffries
• The speaker vote, conducted by roll call
• In alphabetical order, each member's name is called, and they respond with their vote. In past elections, this process has taken a little longer than an hour. 
• If no one wins a majority, there will be multiple ballots. The House could go straight to another round of nominating speeches and a vote, or members could adjourn and meet behind closed doors.

Once a speaker is elected, here's what happens:

• The clerk appoints a bipartisan committee to escort the speaker-elect to the speaker's chair on the dais
• Speaker-elect is escorted
• The minority leader introduces speaker-elect to chamber; could deliver a statement
• The speaker delivers remarks and gets sworn in by the dean of the House: Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky
• The speaker administers the oath of office for members
• Adoption of the rules of the House
• Adoption of administrative rules
• Announcement of speaker policies on floor practices

The House is expected to have 434 members present. The one seat expected to be vacant is that of former Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Members will be called individually and vote by calling out a name. To be reelected as speaker, Johnson will need a majority. The magic number isn't set in stone, which is why things can get a bit tricky. It could change based on attendance, and whether members vote for a named candidate or simply record themselves as "present."

So let's run through some scenarios.

If all 215 Democrats show up and unite behind their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Johnson will only be able to lose one Republican who votes for another named candidate:

• Jeffries: 215
• Johnson: 218
• Other candidate: 1
• 218 out of 434 = A majority for Johnson

If he loses a second Republican to another named candidate, he would not have the magic number for a majority: 

• Jeffries: 215
• Johnson: 217
• Other candidate: 2
• 217 out of 434 = Not a majority

He could in theory lose one GOP vote to another named candidate, and afford one other Republican defection so long as that person records "present" and doesn't vote for an alternative candidate. That's because the number he'd need for a majority would be lower:

• Jeffries: 215
• Johnson: 217
• Other candidate: 1
• Present: 1
• 217 out of 433 = A majority for Johnson

He cannot lose a GOP vote to a named candidate if two Republicans vote "present," however:

• Jeffries: 215
• Johnson: 216
• Other candidate: 1
• Present: 2
• 216 out of 432 = Not a majority for Johnson

He could lose three defectors if they all vote "present":

• Jeffries: 215
• Johnson: 216
• Present: 3
• 216 out of 431 = A majority for Johnson

However, we know this last scenario won't happen, because Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has already told reporters he won't vote for Johnson and will vote for an alternate candidate. 

Currently, Massie is the only "no." He told reporters in December that he had a "few" alternate candidates in mind, but wouldn't say who they were.

There are several Republicans who have publicly said they're undecided on Johnson, including Reps. Chip Roy, Andy Biggs, Victoria Spartz, Tim Burchett and Ralph Norman. Johnson met with several of the holdouts on Thursday.

The key advantage for Johnson is that no other Republican is currently challenging him or has publicly expressed interest in doing so.

Roy, whose vote could decide the outcome of the speaker battle, is sitting toward the back of the House chamber and being greeted by a slew of lawmakers as they wait for the vote to get started. Johnson himself approached the Texas Republican and the two briefly spoke. 

Johnson has entered the House chamber, greeting lawmakers and posing for photos ahead of the vote. He shook hands with a number of those who could oppose him, including Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona. 

Just one House Republican has publicly pledged not to support Johnson, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. But a number of others have expressed skepticism or otherwise voiced concern about Republican leadership:

• Rep. Andy Biggs
of Arizona
• Rep. Lauren Boebert
of Colorado
• Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee
• Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri
• Rep. Mike Cloud of Texas
• Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia
• Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona
• Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland
• Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina
• Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee
• Rep. Chip Roy of Texas
• Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana

Many will be called to vote early on in the process, which proceeds alphabetically. That should give a good sense of Johnson's support.

CBS News' Scott MacFarlane reports from the Capitol:

Johnson may not have the votes needed to retain the gavel even with Trump's endorsement. CBS News' Taurean Small and Libby Cathey report:

Johnson told reporters that House Republicans "don't have time for drama" as the party prepares to move on its lengthy list of legislative priorities. He urged his conference to make suggestions to address their frustration with his leadership — though he pledged not to do anything "in exchange for a vote."

"My simple message to my colleagues is, make suggestions about process improvements," Johnson said. "We're open to that at all times, but I don't make deals with anyone."

The speaker said the conference needs to unify around Trump's agenda, arguing that  "this election is not just about one person. It's about moving forward with the America first agenda."

Officials at the Capitol have beefed up security as the new Congress prepares to meet on Friday, the first of several high-profile events on Capitol Hill in the coming weeks. Congress will meet on Monday, Jan. 6, to count the Electoral College votes and finalize Trump's victory. Former President Jimmy Carter will also lie in state at the Capitol next week, and the inauguration is set for later this month. 

Temporary fences were erected on the perimeter of the Capitol in recent days, and law enforcement agencies including the Capitol Police and Secret Service are coordinating on security. The Department of Homeland Security designated the Jan. 6 counting of electoral votes a "national special security event" following the attack on the Capitol in 2021, providing for a greater level of coordination among federal agencies.

At the Capitol, Johnson was asked about the possibility of Rep. Chip Roy becoming chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, as some of Johnson's detractors have suggested. 

"I'm not making deals with anybody," Johnson replied.

Trump offered well wishes to Johnson on Truth Social before the House convenes to appoint a new speaker. The president-elect endorsed the Louisiana Republican's bid to keep the gavel Monday.

"Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support," Trump wrote. Johnson is expected to have the votes of most House Republicans, but no Democrats are expected to back his bid.

He added, "A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!! - A BIG AFFIRMATION, INDEED. MAGA!" he wrote. 

The House speaker is elected by the whole chamber, not just the party in control.

Republicans won 220 seats in November, but Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who was tapped to lead Trump's Justice Department and then later withdrew, has said he will not take his seat, giving Republicans a 219 to 215 edge. 

Johnson will need 218 votes to win the speakership if all 434 remaining members are present and voting. That means that without any Democratic defections, Johnson can only afford to lose a single vote. 

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said he will vote for someone other than Johnson, citing the speaker's handling of the government funding battle. Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican, said he's undecided on his vote and doubted that Johnson has enough support.

But absences or members who vote "present" could tip the math in Johnson's favor by lowering the threshold he needs to win. And no viable alternative has emerged who could feasibly win the support of the Republican conference, leaving Johnson's detractors without a backup candidate. Johnson also enjoys the support of President-elect Donald Trump, who of course holds enormous sway over the party.

Johnson met Thursday with members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus as his bid for the speakership hangs in the balance. 

He emerged from the meeting appearing confident that he'll retain the gavel and said his conversations with conservatives are "going well." He also predicted the vote would go "smoothly." 

Several conservatives were seen entering Johnson's office at the Capitol, including Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, who has questioned Johnson's leadership. Others in attendance, including Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Victoria Spartz of Indiana, have said they are undecided.

Read more here.

With their newfound control of both chambers of Congress, Republican leaders are touting a list of priorities that they aim to quickly address, notably on immigration and taxes.

How exactly Republicans will proceed remains to be seen. Earlier this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson outlined plans to move the GOP agenda through the budget reconciliation process, which allows them to forgo a 60-vote threshold typically required for legislation in the Senate. But reconciliation is a complicated maneuver that comes with its own limitations on what can be included in a final bill.

Johnson, who faces his own dicey speaker's election on Friday, said a reconciliation package will be "the key of the first 100 days," but he noted that it will require "a lot of coordination, planning and executing those plans with precision." 

"We are going to fix the border," Johnson said on Fox News on Monday. "We are going to get the economy humming again. We are going to restore our stature on the world stage, get our energy policy fixed, make sure that we don't have the largest tax cut in U.S. history imposed upon the American people at the end of next year when the tax cuts from the Trump era expire." 

Congressional Republicans have touted their alignment on the issues, saying that they have a mandate from the American people to deliver on Trump's "America First" agenda. Still, a unified vision of how to move forward with the priorities has appeared cloudy as the new Congress begins. 

"We have a lot on our plate," Johnson said. "But I'm confident we're going to be able to get it done."

Read more about where Republicans plan to start here.

Johnson won the gavel in October 2023 after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, was ousted after nine months. It was the first time in history that the House voted to remove the speaker. 

McCarthy became speaker in January 2023 after a marathon 15 rounds of voting that delayed the swearing-in of House members by several days. To win, McCarthy ultimately gave in to conservative demands, including allowing a single member to trigger a no-confidence vote to oust the speaker. 

The decision came back to bite McCarthy after he struck a deal with Democrats to avert a government shutdown. Gaetz introduced the motion to remove McCarthy, and along with seven other far-right Republicans and all Democrats, ended his speakership. 

It took Republicans three weeks to coalesce behind a candidate. After three high-profile members were unable to overcome opposition from within the party, Johnson emerged with unanimous support among Republicans and won on the fourth ballot.

Conservatives have repeatedly threatened Johnson with a similar fate after he has relied on Democratic votes to pass legislation, including spending bills to keep the government operating and foreign aid. Democrats saved Johnson last May from a far-right effort to remove him from his post. 

The far-right's antics have angered their colleagues, leading to an agreement to raise the threshold to force a vote on ousting a speaker to nine members of the majority in the new Congress.