GOP Selects Rep. Mike Johnson as New House Speaker Nominee Following Tom Emmer’s Sudden Exit Amid Internal Struggles

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Late Tuesday, the Republican Party designated Rep. Mike Johnson as their new candidate for the Speaker of the House, coming shortly after Rep. Tom Emmer withdrew his candidacy amid resistance from former President Donald Trump and hardline GOP lawmakers.

Johnson, a representative from Louisiana and a relatively junior member of the House Republican leadership, is the party’s fourth choice for the role of Speaker. This follows a prolonged period of internal conflict since the removal of Kevin McCarthy, as different factions within the GOP vie for influence.

Divisions within the party have been stark; far-right elements reject the idea of a traditional Speaker, whereas moderate conservatives are opposed to a hardliner. In a private vote, Johnson did secure a majority but will require nearly unanimous support from GOP members in the forthcoming House floor vote scheduled for Wednesday.

In a post-vote press conference, fellow lawmakers surrounded Johnson, chanting his name as an expression of solidarity.

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After three weeks of indecisiveness, Republicans risk losing their majority status in the House, a development that has been viewed as a source of frustration by some and as a display of democratic processes by others. This ongoing turbulence defies the traditional operational expectations of the House of Representatives.

After announcing his withdrawal on Tuesday afternoon, Emmer exited the private meeting he had been attending with fellow Republicans. He later clarified at the Capitol that his decision was based on his rapport with GOP members, and not due to Trump’s disapproval.

Former President Trump, while exiting a New York courtroom where he faces business fraud charges, suggested that his “un-endorsement” must have affected Emmer’s candidacy. He criticized Emmer for not adhering to Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) ideology.

Behind closed doors, GOP members reconvened, fervently seeking a leader who could unify the party, restore normalcy to the House, and facilitate Congressional functionality. The focus quickly shifted to Johnson, who had come in second in Tuesday morning’s internal ballots.

A constitutional law expert, Johnson had previously galvanized Republican support around Trump’s legal initiatives to contest the 2020 election outcomes. Johnson’s potential ascension to the position of Speaker would elevate him above Majority Leader Steve Scalise, also of Louisiana, who had been dismissed earlier in his bid for the Speaker role by party hardliners.

Nonetheless, Johnson’s candidacy faced immediate opposition from hardliners, leading to the surfacing of new potential candidates, including Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, who had ranked third in the morning’s ballots.

Johnson ultimately garnered 128 votes in the evening vote, more than any other candidate. McCarthy, surprisingly, received 43 votes despite not being on the ballot.

One proposal under consideration, initially reported by NBC News, involves reinstating McCarthy as Speaker and assigning hardliner Rep. Jim Jordan to a new leadership role. Although viewed by some as a potential unifying strategy, others remain skeptical of its viability.

With the Republican Party holding a slim 221-212 majority over Democrats in the House, the GOP can afford only a handful of dissenters in the Speaker election.

As the party grapples with internal divisions, looming deadlines exacerbate the challenges. Congressional failure to pass a funding bill by November 17 could result in a government shutdown. Additionally, President Joe Biden has called for $105 billion in aid for Israel, Ukraine, and U.S. border security, while federal aviation and agricultural programs await reauthorization.

Contributor

Big Big News writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about GOP Speaker Nomination

More about GOP Speaker Nomination

• GOP Leadership Struggles
• Tom Emmer’s Withdrawal
• Mike Johnson’s Career
• Kevin McCarthy’s Ouster
• GOP’s Internal Divisions
• Donald Trump’s Influence in GOP
• Congressional Deadlines and Challenges
• House Majority Status and Party Alignment
• The Role of the Speaker of the House
• Legislative Priorities and Funding Deadlines