WASHINGTON – Mike Johnson remains to be combating for his political life.
The Louisiana Republican’s grip on the House speaker’s gavel and his place as second in line to the presidency will likely be examined Friday when a brand new Congress convenes and House Republicans think about whether or not to re-elect him to the place.
The problem, as at all times, is that Johnson will want practically all of the Republican votes to win.
Johnson has a singular asset in his favor: President-elect Donald Trump endorsed him for speaker in a social media submit earlier within the week. But it is unclear whether or not Trump’s blessing will likely be sufficient to steer far-right Republicans, who’re typically annoyed with Johnson’s management and who’re inclined to demand concessions when their votes develop into important.
Johnson, 52, rose to the speakership in October 2023 virtually accidentally after Republicans struggled to interchange Kevin McCarthy following the California Republican’s unprecedented elimination from workplace. Several contenders tried and failed earlier than Republicans selected Johnson, who is very rated all through the convention.
But Johnson’s dealing with of main funding fights, together with the passage of help to Ukraine final spring and, extra not too long ago, a short-term spending invoice, has turned at the very least some allies into detractors.
With Republicans holding a slim 220-215 majority within the House, it will take simply two Republican lawmakers voting for different candidates to disclaim Johnson a majority for speaker, forcing a number of rounds of voting.
Here’s what to learn about how the House elects a speaker:
No Chamber with out a speaker
The election of a speaker is the primary order of enterprise for the House after a brand new session of Congress begins at midday. It is a vow that members take even earlier than taking the oath.
The House can’t arrange itself till it has a speaker as a result of that individual successfully serves because the president of the House and the executive head of the establishment. The House might elect a brand new president at any time if the individual serving in that position dies, resigns, or is faraway from workplace. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, the workplace of speaker has been vacant solely 13 occasions in U.S. historical past. No speaker had ever been eliminated till eight Republicans joined with Democrats to oust McCarthy.
Except in these instances, a speaker is generally elected initially of a brand new Congress and serves for the complete two-year session.
The Clerk of the House presides over the election of the Speaker. Lawmakers name from the ground their chosen identify for the speaker, a uncommon and time-consuming name that heightens the drama on the ground. Deputies usually enliven the assembly by shouting or standing up when casting their vote.
Who will be nominated?
Any identify could also be spoken from the ground of the House. While it’s custom for the speaker to be a member of the House, it isn’t required.
In previous years, Democratic President Joe Biden, Trump and even one senator, Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, have obtained votes to develop into speaker of the House. No one received a majority of votes. And typically, a celebration’s official candidate for speaker is whoever finally ends up with the gavel.
Republicans selected Johnson as their candidate for speaker in a closed-door vote in November. Every week later, Democrats unanimously selected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to stay their chief regardless of the celebration’s election losses.
Legislators aren’t obligated to vote for the candidate nominated by their celebration. And that is why the method can rapidly develop into complicated.
Let the voting start
Once the House has reached a quorum, i.e. the minimal variety of members to proceed, nomination speeches will likely be made on behalf of the speaker candidates. The clerk appoints legislators from every celebration as tellers to rely the votes earlier than roll name begins.
To develop into speaker, a candidate wants a majority of the votes of House members current and voting.
Historically the magic quantity has been 218 of the 435 members of the House. But many earlier audio system, together with McCarthy, have gained by fewer votes as a result of members typically vote “current” as a substitute of claiming a reputation. Each parliamentarian who votes “current” reduces the general quantity wanted to achieve a majority.
It stays to be seen whether or not Johnson will obtain a majority to develop into speaker on the primary poll. If it fails, the clerk is prone to transfer to provoke one other roll-call vote.
McCarthy made it by 15 grueling votes in 4 days earlier than gaining sufficient help to develop into the fifty fifth speaker in January 2023.
Passing of the gavel
Once a speaker candidate wins a majority of these current and voting, the clerk will announce the election outcomes.
A bipartisan committee, often made up of members from the chosen candidate’s residence state, will accompany the speaker-elect to the stage the place she or he is sworn in. The oath is an identical to the one new members will take as soon as they’ve chosen a speaker.
The outgoing speaker often joins his successor within the speaker’s chair, the place the gavel is handed as a nod to the peaceable transition of energy from one celebration chief to a different. But this time, since Johnson is already the speaker, Jeffries will probably be the one at hand the gavel to Johnson as soon as once more.
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