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Democratic lawmakers had mixed reactions when Republican Rep. Mike Johnson was re-elected as chairman of the House for the 119th Congress.
Lawmakers gathered on Capitol Hill Friday to vote on a speaker before the new Congress begins. Johnson won the speaker race during the first round of voting, but not all of them GOP lawmakers they originally supported his candidacy.
During the first round, three Republicans voted for candidates other than Johnson. However, after a brief meeting in the GOP locker room with Johnson, Republican rebels Ralph Norman and Keith Self switched their vote for the first round, securing Johnson’s speakership.
While it’s not yet known whether embattled Republicans would change their votes, Democrats began reacting on social media.
MIKE JOHNSON RE-ELECTED AS SPEAKER AS GOP RIOT THREAT DISSOLVED
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is congratulated by Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., left, in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol after Johnson won the presidency of the 119th Congress Friday, January 3, 2025. (Tom Williams)
“The GOP civil war is in full swing. And it’s only Day 1,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote in a post on X shortly before two of the GOP holdouts switched their votes .
“Well, it only took the GOP a few minutes to throw this train off its tracks, without voting for their own Speaker of the House,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury, DN.M., in a social media post . “I was hoping we could leave the dysfunction in 2024 and work for the American people! But we’re going to a second round of presidential votes.”
But sentiment changed after Johnson won the hammer in just one round. One Democrat credited Johnson with securing the presidency in a single vote after Republican lawmakers took four days to choose a speaker in January 2023.
GOP REBELS SWITCH JOHNSON VOTE AFTER TRUMP’S 11TH-HOUR CALLS, PUSHING HIM OVER THE FINISH LINE
“To his credit, Mike Johnson learned from the 15-round debacle of 2 years ago. Instead of trying to cripple his conference with a quick runoff, he kept the voting open while arm-twisting ensued and back hand wringing. The result: 2 votes, enough to win the hammer,” said Rep. Hank Johnson, R-Ga.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., speaks to the media during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol. (Kevin Dietsch)
“This fight is over, but keep the popcorn close.”
“Hell has frozen over (literally, it’s snowing in DC)! With just one vote, we have a speaker, for now!” Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, told X.
Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky said, “Now that we have a speaker, let’s get to work.”
After Johnson won the presidential vote, other Democrats congratulated him.
“Congratulations to Mike Johnson on winning re-election as Speaker of the House,” Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., posted on social media. “There are several revised bipartisan bills on the docket that I could introduce immediately to help Americans: pay for housing, pay for Rx drugs, secure the border.”
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said, “We have a speaker, for now!” (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
Democratic deputies voted unanimously for Representative-elect Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
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“215 @HouseDemocrats are united behind our leader @RepJeffries. First round. Every round,” Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Massachusetts, said in a post on X after the vote.
