Trump-backed Mike Johnson elected House speaker after 22 days - live

House Republicans overwhelmingly elected Rep Mike Johnson (R-LA) to be the next speaker of the House after 22 days where the House of Representatives had no leader amid turmoil across the globe and the need to pass spending bills next month.

Mr Johnson, the former deputy whip for House Republicans, won 220 votes on the floor after House Republicans coalesced around him on Tuesday evening. His ascent came after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer dropped out a mere four hours after the House Republican conference nominated him to be speaker.

Republicans from all factions of the conference cheered Mr Johnson and whistled on the floor, chanting his name.

After conservatives, led by former president Donald Trump, revolted against Mr Emmer, he removed himself from the running and after another contest, Mr Johnson emerged victorious.

A former attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom, Mr Johnson is considered an arch-social conservative staunchly opposed to abortion. Earlier this year, he introduced legislation that would have made it illegal to transport a person under the age of 18 across state lines to obtain an abortion without parental notification.

Key Points

• House finally has a speaker as Mike Johnson wins after weeks of chaos

• Mike Johnson voted House speaker 22 days after McCarthy ouster

• Rep Angie Craig uses vote for Jeffries to celebrate wedding anniversary with wife

• ‘The most important architect of the Electoral College objections’

• Aguilar slams Johnson over right-wing views and Jan 6 actions

Emmer, Johnson, Donalds, and Hern head into fourth round

Tuesday 24 October 2023 16:26 , Gustaf Kilander

Trump allies are railing against ‘anti-Trump’ Tom Emmer for speaker

Tuesday 24 October 2023 16:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Allies of former president Donald Trump have begun working to take down the speakership bid of House GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer.

Those close to Mr Trump began sniping at the Minnesota lawmaker in the media on Friday, with far-right outlet Real America’s Voice declaring that Mr Emmer is “Nancy Pelosi in a suit”.

Mr Emmer has frantically been trying to quash the narrative that he’s not supportive of former president Donald Trump.

Mr Emmer and his staff worked overtime over the weekend making calls, including one to Mr Trump. The call between Mr Trump and Mr Emmer has been described as cordial, even as Mr Trump has been telling associates that he doesn’t want Mr Emmer as speaker, bothered by his vote to certify the 2020 election and believing that he hasn’t been sufficiently defending him in public amidst his broadening legal woes.

“Will you endorse Emmer? He hasn’t always been your biggest fan…” a reporter asked Mr Trump in New Hampshire on Monday.

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Down to Emmer and Johnson

Tuesday 24 October 2023 16:51 , Gustaf Kilander

Only Reps Tom Emmer and Mike Johnson remain after Rep Kevin Hern was booted on the fourth round and Rep Byron Donalds dropped out voluntarily, according to Politico.

Emmer gets 107 votes in fourth round

Tuesday 24 October 2023 16:56 , Gustaf Kilander

George Clooney’s doc on OSU sex abuse scandal will be a ‘game changer’

Tuesday 24 October 2023 17:00 , Bevan Hurley

Amajor documentary on the Ohio State University (OSU) sexual abuse scandal that is expected to renew attention on then-OSU coach and now Republican Congressman Jim Jordan is currently in the middle of production.

The untitled Max (HBO) film, produced by George Clooney and directed by Academy Award-winner Eva Orner, will tell the story of decades of abuse by former OSU sports doctor Richard Strauss through the eyes of victims “including All American wrestlers and football players, many of whom have not spoken out until now”, the streaming site said in a statement last year.

A staffer at Clooney’s production house Smokehouse Pictures told The Independent they were “still thick in production on it”.

Attention on the scandal intensified in recent weeks as Jordan began his ill-fated run for House Speaker, only to be cast aside by the same chaotic forces he helped to foster within the party. Mr Jordan has denied any knowledge of the abuse by Strauss, despite numerous witnesses stating they discussed it with him directly.

Several victims have since gone on record to say that Mr Jordan’s alleged participation in the culture of silence that enabled Strauss’ abuse to go unpunished should have disqualified him from the speakership.

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Emmer is next nominee for speaker

Tuesday 24 October 2023 17:19 , Gustaf Kilander

Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota is the next nominee for speaker after winning the fifth internal ballot, getting 117 votes to Rep Mike Johnson’s 97.

Emmer gets fewer votes than Jordan, in for ‘tough slog'

Tuesday 24 October 2023 17:35 , Gustaf Kilander

All the winning results so far

Tuesday 24 October 2023 17:36 , Gustaf Kilander

Emmer to keep pushing roll call votes until he gets to 217

Tuesday 24 October 2023 18:06 , Gustaf Kilander

‘In trench warfare even a couple of yards can be a long way'

Tuesday 24 October 2023 18:15 , Gustaf Kilander

Patrick McHenry again brought up as possible solution

Tuesday 24 October 2023 18:30 , Gustaf Kilander

26 holdouts remain as Emmer to stay in Capitol office building until he gets to 217

Tuesday 24 October 2023 18:45 , Gustaf Kilander

McCarthy claims eight Republicans who ousted him were working with Democrats

Tuesday 24 October 2023 19:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Nehls: ‘There’s no way he can get 217. I don’t see it’

Tuesday 24 October 2023 19:15 , Gustaf Kilander

Democratic conference chair doesn’t say if members will vote present

Tuesday 24 October 2023 19:30 , Gustaf Kilander

GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer wins Republican speaker nomination

Tuesday 24 October 2023 19:45 , Gustaf Kilander

GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer has won the Republican nomination for speaker after five rounds of internal voting, but it remains unclear if he has the support needed to win a floor vote.

Mr Emmer and Rep Mike Johnson were the final two in the speaker’s race after Rep Kevin Hern was booted on the fourth round and Rep Byron Donalds dropped out voluntarily.

Mr Emmer, who joined the House after winning his seat in 2014 after spending six years in the state legislature and losing a tight race for Minnesota governor in 2010, won the first round of voting for the speaker nomination after receiving 78 votes, with Mr Johnson coming in second with 34 votes.

Mr Emmer’s lead grew in the second round, gaining 12 votes. Mr Johnson remained in second, gaining three votes. In the third ballot, Mr Emmer got 100 votes, 107 on the fourth, and finally 117 on the fifth.

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‘He’s got a lot of work to do'

Tuesday 24 October 2023 20:00 , Eric Garcia

Rep Jim Banks told The Independent that Mr Emmer is “a long way away” from the speakership as of Tuesday afternoon. “He’s got a lot of work to do.”

Asked what his concerns were about Mr Emmer, he said: “I could have voted for any of the others who put themselves up today on the floor, but I can’t vote for someone who doesn’t have a conservative track record.”

Emmer may move to the floor for a vote of the full House later on Tuesday

Tuesday 24 October 2023 20:15 , Gustaf Kilander

The GOP spent hours behind closed doors in a candidate forum on Monday night.

Nine candidates put themselves forward as possible options – Mr Donalds, Mr Johnson, Jack Bergman, Mr Hern, Dan Meuser, Gary Palmer, Pete Sessions, Austin Scott, and Mr Emmer.

Mr Emmer may move to the floor for a vote of the full House later on Tuesday, with his strategy for how he’ll get the support needed remaining unclear. However, his allies have said that he wishes to avoid the debacle that led to the downfall of Rep Jim Jordan, by only going to the floor after he has made sure that he has the support needed, according to Politico.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the first nominee following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, chose not to go to the floor after private conversations revealed he didn’t have the required support.

Trump slams ‘Globalist RINO’ Tom Emmer after winning speaker nomination

Tuesday 24 October 2023 20:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump voiced his unhappiness with the result of the latest ballot to decide who would be the Republican Party nominee for Speaker of the House.

As the lunch break drew to a close at his civil trial for fraud in New York, the former president posted on Truth Social, attacking Minnesota Rep Tom Emmer as a “Globalist RINO”.

Mr Trump wrote: “I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement, or the breadth and scope of MAGA—MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

He continued: “He fought me all the way, and actually spent more time defending Ilhan Omar, than he did me—He is totally out-of-touch with Republican Voters. I believe he has now learned his lesson, because he is saying that he is Pro-Trump all the way, but who can ever be sure? Has he only changed because that’s what it takes to win?”

The former president concluded: “The Republican Party cannot take that chance, because that’s not where the America First Voters are. Voting for a Globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake!”

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‘He’s the overwhelming vote-getter'

Tuesday 24 October 2023 20:40 , Eric Garcia

There are a number of holdouts that Mr Emmer will have to attempt to win over, including a number of allies of former President Donald Trump. Mr Meuser said that Mr Emmer has about “10 holdouts,” according to Politico.

With only 221 members in a body of 433--the House has two vacancies--Mr Emmer can only lose four.

“People are locked in, he’s explaining his position,” Rep Tim Burchett of Tennessee told The Independent after the vote. “ I would hope that he can get in the room with just those people that are holding out and that would be the way to go.”

Mr Burchett was one of eight Republicans who joined every Democrat to remove Mr McCarthy, but he voted for Mr Emmer.

“He’s the overwhelming vote-getter,” Mr Burchett said of Mr Emmer.

‘We need a vegetable that wilts faster than a head of lettuce'

Tuesday 24 October 2023 20:43 , Gustaf Kilander

Banks and Greene come out against Emmer after Trump trashes speaker nominee

Tuesday 24 October 2023 21:00 , Gustaf Kilander

‘Buzz’ about Mike Johnson as speaker hours after Emmer nomination

Tuesday 24 October 2023 21:08 , Gustaf Kilander

‘He was a RINO’: Trump comes out swinging against Emmer

Tuesday 24 October 2023 21:13 , Gustaf Kilander

Former President Donald Trump slammed Rep Tom Emmer, saying “He was not a supporter. I mean, he was a RINO”.

Emmer leaves ongoing conference meeting

Tuesday 24 October 2023 21:25 , Gustaf Kilander

Republican who voted out McCarthy calls for end to Emmer speaker bid

Tuesday 24 October 2023 21:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Several people said they won’t back Emmer under any circumstances

Tuesday 24 October 2023 22:00 , Gustaf Kilander

VOICES: Tom Emmer was doomed before his speaker bid even began

Tuesday 24 October 2023 22:01 , Eric Garcia

Good evening and welcome to the 21st day of the House Republican speaker thunderdome!

The latest victim: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer.

The Minnesota Republican barely got to enjoy the fact he emerged out of a nine-man (and only men ran for the office) Royal Rumble to win the House GOP conference’s nomination to be speaker of the House before he ultimately ended his bid. This came three weeks to the day since Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) turned the House of Representatives into Mojo Dojo Casa House and booted Kevin McCarthy.

After an all-night candidate forum on Monday and a process of elimination ballot in the Longworth House Office Building, Mr Emmer emerged as the winner.

On paper, he should be a perfect choice for the gavel. An ally of Mr McCarthy, he led the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2020 when they significantly weakened Democrats’ majority in the House and finished the job in 2022. As whip, he should ostensibly be a good vote counter.

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Christie lashes out at House GOP ‘embarrassment’ over speaker chaos

Tuesday 24 October 2023 22:45 , John Bowden

Chris Christie berated members of his own party for their failure to elect a Speaker of the House on Monday as the GOP enters its fourth week of chaos in the lower chamber.

The GOP presidential candidate appeared on MSNBC where he urged the chamber to pick a Republican and unify around them before the essential functions of government were threatened by the stalemate.

As of Tuesday, the Republicans seemed no closer to selecting a leader. GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer was nominated by his caucus in a closed-door session only to see his bid begin dissolving minutes later, with more than two dozen holdouts materialising against him. Potentially his greatest opponent: Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination, who denounced Mr Emmer in a social media posting on Tuesday.

Mr Christie, who has hinged his bid for the Republican nomination on a total repudiation of the far right and Donald Trump, took aim at that chaos the evening prior.

“We’ve gone through two nominees of the party since Kevin McCarthy. It’s an embarrassment ... to the country and the party,” said Mr Christie.

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Trump called Emmer ‘outstanding’ in August 2022

Tuesday 24 October 2023 23:30 , Gustaf Kilander

‘I wouldn’t be shocked if this ended in an actual fistfight between Banks and Emmer'

Wednesday 25 October 2023 00:15 , Gustaf Kilander

Rep Jim Banks said that his opposition to Rep Tom Emmer as speaker is “all about policy. there are big policy differences. So I’m a conservative, he’s not, I’m not going to vote to put someone who’s not a conservative in the Speaker’s chair”, according to the Washington Examiner.

A Republican aide told the paper: “I wouldn’t be shocked if this ended in an actual fistfight between Banks and Emmer. Put my money on the hockey dad.”

‘He was a RINO’: Trump comes out swinging against Emmer

Wednesday 25 October 2023 01:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Former President Donald Trump slammed Rep Tom Emmer, saying “He was not a supporter. I mean, he was a RINO”.

‘I only had 8 against me,’ McCarthy says after 26 vote no in Emmer roll call

Wednesday 25 October 2023 01:45 , Gustaf Kilander

‘They should just pick a Speaker and move on,’ Christie says

Wednesday 25 October 2023 02:30 , John Bowden

Chris Christie berated members of his own party for their failure to elect a Speaker of the House on Monday as the GOP enters its fourth week of chaos in the lower chamber.

“We’ve gone through two nominees of the party since Kevin McCarthy. It’s an embarrassment ... to the country and the party,” said Mr Christie.

“We need a House of Representatives that functions,” he added. “They should just pick a Speaker and move on.”

He did not spare Democrats from criticism, noting that the chamber’s minority had refused to vote for Mr McCarthy and save him from an intra-party rebellion of his own creation. Democrats, he argued, “contributed to the problem” and argued that they along with eight Republicans had fired Mr McCarthy “without cause”.

‘The House Republican chaos, disfunction and extremism has reached a new level,’ Jeffries says

Wednesday 25 October 2023 03:15 , Gustaf Kilander

The issues Mike Johnson might run into following Emmer’s fall

Wednesday 25 October 2023 04:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Who is Tom Emmer?

Wednesday 25 October 2023 05:00 , Ariana Baio

Thomas “Tom” Emmer has proven himself to be a traditional and reliable conservative, chairing the National Republican Congressional Committee for four years and being elected the House majority whip in 2022.

The 62-year-old was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2015 to represent Minnesota’s 6th District. He serves on the Committee on Financial Services as well as two subcommittees, one on Capital Markets and the other on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion.

Prior to holding national office, Mr Emmer served in Minnesota’s State House of Representatives for six years during which he made an unsuccessful bid for governor – losing by less than 10,000 votes.

He’s been married to his wife Jacqueline for 37 years and the couple have seven children.

Mr Emmer is one of the lesser-known members of his caucus because he’s relatively quiet compared to some of his far-right colleagues.

Notably, while many Republicans were predicting a “red wave” during the last US midterm elections, Mr Emmer was sounding a note of caution telling colleagues, “Don’t be measuring the drapes.”

But despite appearing more laid back, Mr Emmer’s legislative track record is deeply loyal to his party on nearly all fronts.

Mr Emmer has backed legislation that supports parental rights, loosens environmental protections (he has doubted scientific evidence of the climate crisis), is anti-abortion and eases firearm restrictions. He also supported bringing articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden.

Though Mr Emmer voted to certify the 2020 results after Mr Trump’s false claims that the election had been stolen, he has also defended former president Donald Trump when he faced federal indictment over the Jan 6 riots at the US Capitol.

Wrestling abuse dogged Jim Jordan’s House speaker run. A new film could be a ‘game changer’

Wednesday 25 October 2023 06:00 , Bevan Hurley

Amajor documentary on the Ohio State University (OSU) sexual abuse scandal that is expected to renew attention on then-OSU coach and now Republican Congressman Jim Jordan is currently in the middle of production.

The untitled Max (HBO) film, produced by George Clooney and directed by Academy Award-winner Eva Orner, will tell the story of decades of abuse by former OSU sports doctor Richard Strauss through the eyes of victims “including All American wrestlers and football players, many of whom have not spoken out until now”, the streaming site said in a statement last year.

A staffer at Clooney’s production house Smokehouse Pictures told The Independent they were “still thick in production on it”.

Attention on the scandal intensified in recent weeks as Jordan began his ill-fated run for House Speaker, only to be cast aside by the same chaotic forces he helped to foster within the party. Mr Jordan has denied any knowledge of the abuse by Strauss, despite numerous witnesses stating they discussed it with him directly.

Several victims have since gone on record to say that Mr Jordan’s alleged participation in the culture of silence that enabled Strauss’ abuse to go unpunished should have disqualified him from the speakership.

READ MORE

GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer drops speaker bid after four hours

Wednesday 25 October 2023 07:00 , Gustaf Kilander and Eric Garcia

Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s speaker bid lasted only four hours before he dropped out in the face of steadfast opposition from a number of right-wing members of the House Republican conference.

Mr Emmer won the nomination on Tuesday for speaker after five rounds of internal voting, but it quickly became clear that he wouldn’t reach the 217 votes needed on the floor of the House.

Mr Emmer and Rep Mike Johnson were the final two in the internal ballot after Rep Kevin Hern was booted in the fourth round and Rep Byron Donalds dropped out voluntarily.

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Trump says Emmer ‘never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement'

Wednesday 25 October 2023 08:00 , Gustaf Kilander and Eric Garcia

Shortly after Mr Emmer received the backing of fellow Republican congressmen, former President Donald Trump – who had spent the day sitting in a New York courtroom where he is accused of fraud – launched a furious attack on him.

Mr Trump wrote on his social media platform: “I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement, or the breadth and scope of MAGA—MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

He added: “I believe he has now learned his lesson, because he is saying that he is Pro-Trump all the way, but who can ever be sure? Has he only changed because that’s what it takes to win? The Republican Party cannot take that chance, because that’s not where the America First Voters are. Voting for a Globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake!”

Emmer win House seat in 2014

Wednesday 25 October 2023 09:00 , Gustaf Kilander and Eric Garcia

Rep Tom Emmer, who joined the House after winning his seat in 2014 after spending six years in the state legislature and losing a tight race for Minnesota governor in 2010, won the first round of voting for the speaker nomination after receiving 78 votes, with Mr Johnson coming in second with 34 votes.

Mr Emmer’s lead grew in the second round, gaining 12 votes. Mr Johnson remained in second, gaining three votes. In the third ballot, Mr Emmer got 100 votes, 107 on the fourth, and finally 117 on the fifth.

The GOP spent hours behind closed doors in a candidate forum on Monday night.

Nine candidates put themselves forward as possible options – Mr Donalds, Mr Johnson, Jack Bergman, Mr Hern, Dan Meuser, Gary Palmer, Pete Sessions, Austin Scott, and Mr Emmer.

Mike Johnson is latest lawmaker to secure the GOP nomination

Wednesday 25 October 2023 09:26 , Rachel Sharp

Rep Mike Johnson is now the latest lawmaker to secure the GOP nomination for the next House speaker – becoming the fourth nominee in just two weeks as the Republican party remains wracked by infighting and an inability to unite around a single candidate.

The Louisiana congressman was picked by his party on Tuesday night, just hours after the third nominee Tom Emmer abruptly pulled out.

With just 128 votes in a secret closed-door session, he – like the previous three nominees – still has a major uphill battle to secure the 217 votes needed to take the gavel.

Mr Emmer’s speaker bid lasted only four hours before he dropped out in the face of steadfast opposition from Donald Trump allies.

The former president attacked Mr Emmer as a “Globalist RINO” in a Truth Social post.

He then later tried to claim credit for “killing” Mr Emmer’s bid.

FULL STORY: Rep Mike Johnson becomes fourth GOP House speaker nominee in two weeks

Wednesday 25 October 2023 10:00 , Rachel Sharp

Rep Mike Johnson is now the latest lawmaker to secure the GOP nomination for the next House speaker – becoming the fourth nominee in just two weeks as the Republican party remains wracked by infighting and an inability to unite around a candidate.

The Louisiana congressman was picked by his party on Tuesday night, just hours after the third nominee Tom Emmer abruptly pulled out.

With just 128 votes in a secret closed-door session, he – like the previous three nominees – still has a major uphill battle to secure the 217 votes needed to take the gavel.

Speaking to reporters after he secured the nomination, Mr Johnson brushed off the chaos as Republicans clamour to find a new speaker.

“Democracy is messy sometimes, but it is our system,” he said. “This House Republican majority is united.”

Read the full story:

Rep Mike Johnson becomes fourth GOP House speaker nominee in two weeks

Republicans’ search for speaker endangering foreign aid and government funding

Wednesday 25 October 2023 11:00 , Gustaf Kilander and Eric Garcia

Republicans are hoping to appoint a new speaker this week in the face of government funding running out on 17 November and President Joe Biden asking Congress for more than $100bn to help both Ukraine and Israel.

“People are locked in, he’s explaining his position,” Rep Tim Burchett of Tennessee told The Independent before Mr Emmer ended his bid. “I would hope that he can get in the room with just those people that are holding out and that would be the way to go.”

Mr Burchett was one of eight Republicans who joined every Democrat to remove Mr McCarthy, but he voted for Mr Emmer.

“He’s the overwhelming vote-getter,” Mr Burchett said of Mr Emmer.

Emmer tried and failed to win Trump over

Wednesday 25 October 2023 12:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Rep Tom Emmer worked hard in the last few days to overcome the notion that he hasn’t been sufficiently supportive of Mr Trump. However, his efforts appear to have been in vain.

Those close to Mr Trump began sniping at the Minnesota lawmaker in the media on Friday, with far-right outlet Real America’s Voice declaring that Mr Emmer is “Nancy Pelosi in a suit”.

A former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee in the 2020 and 2022 cycle, Mr Emmer worked to recruit many of the Republicans who helped Republicans flip the House. But Republicans still chronically underperformed despite winning back the majority in 2022.

Mr Emmer and his staff worked overtime over the weekend making calls, including one to Mr Trump. The call between Mr Trump and Mr Emmer has been described as cordial, even as Mr Trump has been telling associates that he doesn’t want Mr Emmer as speaker, bothered by his vote to certify the 2020 election and believing that he hasn’t been sufficiently defending him in public amidst his broadening legal woes.

The former president is also reported to be annoyed at Mr Emmer for giving the advice ahead of the 2022 midterms that GOP candidates should avoid focusing on Mr Trump during their campaigns.

“Will you endorse Emmer? He hasn’t always been your biggest fan…” a reporter asked Mr Trump in New Hampshire on Monday.

“He’s my biggest fan now because he called me yesterday and told me he’s my biggest fan so… I’m trying to stay out of that as much as possible,” Mr Trump said. He is reported to have spoken to several candidates for speaker over the weekend.

Mr Emmer shared a clip on X of Mr Trump mentioning their phone call at the weekend in an attempt to assuage his caucus that he has a good “working relationship” with Mr Trump.

“If my colleagues elect me Speaker of the House, I look forward to continuing our strong working relationship,” Mr Emmer wrote on X on Monday.

A spokesperson for Mr Emmer told Politico that “Whip Emmer worked hand in hand with President Trump to help House Republicans fire Nancy Pelosi and retake the majority”.

“If he becomes Speaker, Whip Emmer looks forward to continuing that productive relationship,” the spokesperson added.

Who is Mike Johnson? The latest GOP House speaker nominee

Wednesday 25 October 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp

Rep Mike Johnson has become the latest lawmaker to secure the GOP nomination for the next House speaker, following a disastrous three weeks in the lower chamber.

The Louisiana congressman was picked by his party on Tuesday night, just hours after the third nominee Tom Emmer abruptly pulled out.

He is now the fourth GOP nominee in just two weeks, coming after Mr Emmer, Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan.

With just 128 votes in a secret closed-door session, he – like the previous three nominees – still has a major uphill battle to secure the 217 votes needed to take the gavel.

Read more here:

Who is Mike Johnson? The latest GOP House speaker nominee

Pundits worked to take down Emmer

Wednesday 25 October 2023 13:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Pundits supportive of Donald Trump, such as his former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, had been pushing the notion that Rep Tom Emmer is a Washington insider with no real connection to the MAGA movement.

“Tom Emmer, the biggest never-Trumper in the House, a guy who hates Donald Trump,” Mr Bannon said on his War Room podcast on Friday.

“Here’s the probability Tom Emmer is going to be speaker – zero,” he said.

Islamophobic hard-right influencer Laura Loomer posted that Mr Emmer is “one of the worst members of Congress” and “essentially a Democrat”.

Rep Mike Johnson becomes fourth GOP House speaker nominee in two weeks

Wednesday 25 October 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp

Rep Mike Johnson is now the latest lawmaker to secure the GOP nomination for the next House speaker – becoming the fourth nominee in just two weeks as the Republican party remains wracked by infighting and an inability to unite around a candidate.

The Louisiana congressman was picked by his party on Tuesday night, just hours after the third nominee Tom Emmer abruptly pulled out.

With just 128 votes in a secret closed-door session, he – like the previous three nominees – still has a major uphill battle to secure the 217 votes needed to take the gavel.

Speaking to reporters after he secured the nomination, Mr Johnson brushed off the chaos as Republicans clamour to find a new speaker.

“Democracy is messy sometimes, but it is our system,” he said. “This House Republican majority is united.”

READ MORE

GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer drops speaker bid after four hours

Wednesday 25 October 2023 14:00 , Gustaf Kilander and Eric Garcia

Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s speaker bid lasted only four hours before he dropped out in the face of steadfast opposition from a number of right-wing members of the House Republican conference.

Mr Emmer won the nomination on Tuesday for speaker after five rounds of internal voting, but it quickly became clear that he wouldn’t reach the 217 votes needed on the floor of the House.

Mr Emmer and Rep Mike Johnson were the final two in the internal ballot after Rep Kevin Hern was booted in the fourth round and Rep Byron Donalds dropped out voluntarily.

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Trump boasts that he ‘killed’ Tom Emmer’s speaker bid

Wednesday 25 October 2023 14:30 , Mike Bedigan

Tom Emmer’s public display of gratitude towards Donald Trump for backing his bid for House Speaker did not age well, after the former president boasted online that he had in fact “killed” his chances of winning the coveted position.

The GOPcongressman won his party’s nomination early on Tuesday, but immediately faced steadfast opposition from a number of right-wing members of the House Republican Conference. He dropped out of the race four hours later.

It came just over 24 hours after he sycophantically posted online thanking Mr Trump for an apparent endorsement. Mr Trump was asked on Monday if he would endorse Mr Emmer for House Speaker, despite the latter not always having been “his biggest fan”.

“He’s my biggest fan now because he called me yesterday and told me ‘I’m your biggest fan’,” Mr Trump responded, adding: “We’re looking at a lot of people and I’m trying to stay out of that as much as possible.

“I’ve always gotten along with him, I’ve gotten along with all of them. [There’s] a lot of good people.”

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‘Bandaid on an open chest wound’: Democrats mock latest speaker chaos

Wednesday 25 October 2023 15:00 , Gustaf Kilander

On Tuesday, as Republicans convened for a round of votes to pick their next nominee for speaker, Rep Jared Moskowitz, an outspoken Democrat from Florida, passed by the conclave. One reporter asked if he was running for speaker and he joked that he might be able to get some votes.

Within hours, the House GOP nominated Majority Whip Tom Emmer only for him to face a revolt and summarily drop out.

But joking aside, Mr Moskowitz, who has also criticised the White House for not condemning antisemitism forcefully enough, told The Independent that the inability of the House to act on providing aid to Israel or Ukraine could hurt America from a national security standpoint.

“If the Senate sends over the package, and we don’t have a speaker and our number one ally is not able to get the help that they need in their time of crisis, it’s definitely a national security issue,” Mr Moskowitz said.

Earlier this year, Democrats roundly mocked Republicans for their inability to make Kevin McCarthy speaker of the House, even bringing in popcorn. But on Tuesday, officially three weeks since they joined eight Republicans led by Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to depose Mr McCarthy, they are exasperated at the inability to get work done.

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VIDEO: Republicans nominate Mike Johnson in fourth attempt to fill speaker’s chair

Wednesday 25 October 2023 15:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Trump congratulates speaker nominee Mike Johnson after slamming Emmer

Wednesday 25 October 2023 16:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Donald Trump congratulated Rep Mike Johnson (R-LA) after he became the fourth Republican nominee for speaker in three weeks following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Mr Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday morning, just a day after he helped end the speakership bid of Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) after just a few hours following his nomination earlier on Tuesday.

“Congratulations to Congressional Republicans! Yesterday was a big and very important day. It gave us a quick and easy way forward with 5 candidates who are beyond reproach, and represent the absolute best there is in the Republican Party,” Mr Trump wrote.

“Even the Fake News Media is impressed with what took place yesterday and, more importantly, with the Candidates themselves. Congratulations to Reps. Byron Donalds (Florida), Charles J. ‘Chuck’ Fleischmann (Tennessee), Mark Green (Tennessee), & Roger Williams (Texas), & the ultimate winner of yesterday’s vote, by a significant margin, Mike Johnson (Louisiana),” he added.

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‘Johnson was deeply involved in efforts to keep Trump in power'

Wednesday 25 October 2023 16:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Robert Costa of CBS News wrote on X on Wednesday that “Johnson was deeply involved in efforts to keep Trump in power starting immediately after 2020 election. … I know because I spent months reporting on that period and he was part of letters and behind-scenes efforts with key outside groups”.

“I’ve talked with key sources from that time about how Johnson — then all but unknown — worked with allied Trump groups and conservative leaders in a coordinated way to make sure that whole orbit was working together to help Trump,” Mr Costa added.

Who is Mike Johnson? The latest GOP House speaker nominee

Wednesday 25 October 2023 17:06 , Rachel Sharp

Rep Mike Johnson has become the latest lawmaker to secure the GOP nomination for the next House speaker, following a disastrous three weeks in the lower chamber.

The Louisiana congressman was picked by his party on Tuesday night, just hours after the third nominee Tom Emmer abruptly pulled out.

Mr Johnson is now the fourth GOP nominee in just two weeks, coming after Mr Emmer, Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan.

With just 128 votes in a secret closed-door session, he – like the previous three nominees – still has a major uphill battle to secure the 217 votes needed to take the gavel.

Speaking to reporters after he secured the nomination, Mr Johnson brushed off the chaos as Republicans clamour to find a new speaker.

READ MORE

Mike Johnson is a hardliner when it comes to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights

Wednesday 25 October 2023 17:15 , Eric Garcia

Republicans confident Johnson will win on first ballot

Wednesday 25 October 2023 17:20 , Gustaf Kilander

‘Apparently experience isn’t necessary for the speaker job,’ Romney says

Wednesday 25 October 2023 17:25 , Gustaf Kilander

Who is Mike Johnson? The latest GOP House speaker nominee

Wednesday 25 October 2023 17:30 , Rachel Sharp

Rep Mike Johnson has become the latest lawmaker to secure the GOP nomination for the next House speaker, following a disastrous three weeks in the lower chamber.

The Louisiana congressman was picked by his party on Tuesday night, just hours after the third nominee Tom Emmer abruptly pulled out.

Mr Johnson is now the fourth GOP nominee in just two weeks, coming after Mr Emmer, Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan.

With just 128 votes in a secret closed-door session, he – like the previous three nominees – still has a major uphill battle to secure the 217 votes needed to take the gavel.

Speaking to reporters after he secured the nomination, Mr Johnson brushed off the chaos as Republicans clamour to find a new speaker.

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George Santos mocked for bizarre pitch in House speaker race

Wednesday 25 October 2023 17:45 , Kelly Rissman

Social media users are not reacting to New York Rep George Santos’ poll the way he probably intended, after he asked the X community whether he should be the next House Speaker.

Mr Santos simply asked on Tuesday, “Santos for Speaker?” on the same day that fellow Republican Rep Tom Emmer dropped out of the race after being nominated by the House GOP Conference. The two options Mr Santos put forward were “yes” and “yes.” He was quickly mocked by X users.

One user commented: “You’re getting paid 174k of our tax dollars for this? You’re now trolling the people who pay your salary.”

Another user jokingly provided other potential poll responses, including, “no”, “hell no”, and “[are you f***ing kidding me] no.”

Someone else opined, “This poll is an illustration as to how politicians would like elections to be run.”

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Stefanik nominates Mike Johnson on the House floor

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:00 , Gustaf Kilander

GOP House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik said in her nominating speech for Rep Mike Johnson that he’s a “man of deep faith”.

“Mike epitomizes what it means to be a servant leader. A deeply respected constitutional lawyer, Mike has dedicated his life to preserving America's great principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” she said. “Mike is a titan on the Judiciary Committee and a dedicated member of the House Armed Services Committee.”

“And as vice chair of our conference, he has united all of our members to speak clearly and boldly on behalf of the American people. A friend to all and an enemy to none. Mike is strong, tough and fair. And above all, Mike is kind and at this very moment, this Republican Conference knows that we live in perilous times and the American people are hurting,” she added.

MSNBC host can’t contain laughter as McCarthy mulls new speaker bid

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:00 , Gustaf Kilander

MSNBC host Joy Reid was unable to contain her laughter at the idea of a joint speakership between former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and failed speaker nominee Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH).

On Tuesday night, before the nomination of Rep Mike Johnson (R-LA) as the next GOP speaker, NBC News correspondent Ali Vitali reported on the idea making the rounds that after three weeks without a speaker, Mr McCarthy could return to the post with Mr Jordan as his assistant speaker to appease the far-right members who ousted Mr McCarthy in the first place.

One Republican House member told NBC, “We’re desperate”.

Ms Reid and panelist Tim Miller, a former GOP political operative, burst into laughter at the suggestion, and Ms Reid threw her show notes into the air.

Ms Vitali noted that Rep Katherine Clark (D-MA) had been assistant speaker under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

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Stefanik brings up southern border in Johnson nomination speech

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:02 , Gustaf Kilander

Rep Elise Stefanik claimed in her nominating speech for Rep Mike Johnson that “families are struggling under the pain of inflation caused by reckless far left spending, unable to afford groceries heat or gas”.

“We have an inhumane open border with millions illegally smuggled and trafficked and tens of thousands of children lost in the chasm of the incompetence and negligence of the Biden administration,” she said. “Israel is under attack by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists committing atrocities with Israeli suffering the bloodiest days in modern memory. Crime is skyrocketing on our streets, while there are vicious calls from the left to defund our great men and women in blue.”

Stefanik claims government has been ‘illegally weaponized’

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:04 , Gustaf Kilander

Rep Elise Stefanik “American energy production has been crushed by Joe Biden's radical failed far-left Democrat policies causing seniors farmers and families to pay more at the pump”.

“And Americans fundamentally understand that the federal government has been illegally weaponized against We the People, shredding the Constitution, targeting conservatives,” she claimed.

“House Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson will never give up. Today is the day we get this done. May God bless our next speaker Mike Johnson. May God bless the United States of America,” she concluded.

Aguilar slams Johnson over right-wing views and Jan 6 actions

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:06 , Gustaf Kilander

The chair of the Democratic Caucus Rep Pete Aguilar, argued that “we are back here 22 days into this Republican-manufactured chaos. And House Republicans have brought us to the exact same position that we were back then all of the infighting, all of the disarray just to end up where we were three weeks ago”.

“These past few weeks we had been left wondering if Republicans were truly intent on solving our issues reopening the House of Representatives and rallying around someone to lead this chamber, or has this been about something else?” he asked. “Has this been about the focus of House Republicans to find the person who can pass their extreme litmus test to oppose marriage equality? And act a nationwide abortion ban without exceptions, gut Social Security and Medicare and support overturning a free and fair election? It's a fair question.”

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:07 , Gustaf Kilander

The roll call vote is underway.

Republican shouts ‘damn right’ when Johnson’s Jan 6 actions mentioned

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:08 , Gustaf Kilander

‘The most important architect of the Electoral College objections’

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:12 , Gustaf Kilander

Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar argued that the GOP didn’t care about “growing the middle class, helping our communities keeping the cost of health care lower and making life for everyday Americans better,” when picking a new speaker.

“This has been about one thing, this has been about who can appease Donald Trump?” he said.

“House Republicans have put their names behind someone who has been called the most important architect of the Electoral College objections,” Mr Aguilar added. “He spearheaded the legal effort joined by more than 100 of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle in support of a dangerous and baseless lawsuit to overturn the results of the 2020 election.”

“On the eve of January 6, some of my Republican colleagues even called this a failed strategy. Yet those same individuals plan to stand right next to him today,” he continued. “Democrats believe that when members of this body voted to reject the results of the 2020 election they forfeited their ability to lead this chamber.”

Freedom Caucus members suggests they may go easier on Johnson

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:15 , Gustaf Kilander

Rep Angie Craig uses vote for Jeffries to celebrate wedding anniversary with wife

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:18 , Gustaf Kilander

Democrat predicts Lawler’s vote for Johnson will lose him re-election

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:34 , Gustaf Kilander

Democrat predicts Lawler’s vote for Johnson will lose him re-election

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:39 , Gustaf Kilander

Mike Johnson voted House speaker 22 days after McCarthy ouster

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:55 , Gustaf.Kilander

Rep Mike Johnson (R-LA) has been elected speaker of the House 22 days after the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

The vice chair of the conference received 220 votes in a chamber with 433 out of 435 seats currently filled. He needed at least 217 votes.

An exhausted Republican Party finally unified behind a single candidate after three weeks of infighting, backstabbing and chaotic wrangling.

The House GOP has churned through 14 candidates, and now four nominees – including Mr Johnson – in 22 days since the ouster of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on 3 October.

Late on Tuesday night, Mr Johnson crossed the threshold needed within the Republican conference when he received 128 votes in an internal ballot.

The feeling that Republicans finally had their speaker stemmed from the absence of acrimony following the nomination of Mr Johnson, replaced by cheers, chants of “Mike! Mike! Mike!” and a sense of relief among weary officeholders.

House finally has a speaker as Mike Johnson wins after weeks of chaos

Wednesday 25 October 2023 21:41 , Eric Garcia

House Republicans overwhelmingly elected Rep Mike Johnson (R-LA) to be the next speaker of the House after 22 days where the House of Representatives had no leader amid turmoil across the globe and the need to pass spending bills next month.

Mr Johnson, the former deputy whip for House Republicans, won 220 votes on the floor after House Republicans coalesced around him on Tuesday evening. His ascent came after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer dropped out a mere four hours after the House Republican conference nominated him to be speaker.

Republicans from all factions of the conference cheered Mr Johnson and whistled on the floor, chanting his name.

After conservatives, led by former president Donald Trump, revolted against Mr Emmer, he removed himself from the running and after another contest, Mr Johnson emerged victorious.

A former attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom, Mr Johnson is considered an arch-social conservative staunchly opposed to abortion. Earlier this year, he introduced legislation that would have made it illegal to transport a person under the age of 18 across state lines to obtain an abortion without parental notification.

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An ardent opponent of LGBTQ+ rights

Wednesday 25 October 2023 22:30 , Eric Garcia

Mr Johnson is an ardent opponent of LGBTQ+ rights. In response, Rep Angie Craig (D-MN), the first openly gay mother in Congress, said “Happy anniversary to my wife,” before casting her vote for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

In addition, in December 2020, Mr Johnson, a lawyer by trade, filed an amicus brief on behalf of himself and 125 other House Republicans for a lawsuit filed by Texas to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Despite his hard-right bent, many Republicans from swing districts cast their vote for him on the floor enthusiastically.

Who is Mike Johnson? The latest GOP House speaker nominee

Wednesday 25 October 2023 22:55 , Rachel Sharp, Eric Garcia

House Republicans elected Rep Mike Johnson (R-LA) to be the next speaker of the House, 22 days after the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Mr Johnson, the former deputy whip, won 220 votes on the floor after House Republicans coalesced around him on Tuesday evening. His ascent came after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer dropped out a mere four hours after the House Republican conference nominated him to be speaker.

Republicans from all factions of the conference cheered Mr Johnson and whistled on the floor, chanting his name.

Who is Mike Johnson?

Johnson faces numerous challenges leading the House

Wednesday 25 October 2023 23:15 , Eric Garcia

The vote came 22 days after the ouster of former speaker Kevin McCarthy after Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a motion to vacate the chair, which triggered a non-confidence vote. That in turn triggered a three-week frenzy to find a new speaker.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan then faced off to become the nominee, but as soon as Mr Scalise beat Mr Jordan, arch-conservatives rebelled and pledged to oppose Mr Scalise on the floor, which led to him removing himself from the running.

In response, Republicans nominated Mr Jordan, who failed after three votes last week before Republicans voted in a secret ballot to drop him.

Mr Johnson now faces numerous challenges leading the House. The House must pass some kind of spending bill before 17 November to keep the government open. In the same respect, Republicans and Democrats hope to pass a bill to provide aid to Israel, while many Republicans oppose a supplemental package to aid Ukraine.

VOICES: The House GOP civil war that delivered Trump is over. The radicals won

Wednesday 25 October 2023 23:35 , Eric Garcia

After Republicans unanimously elected Rep Mike Johnson (R-LA) to become speaker of the House, Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), the conspiracy-mongering congresswoman, had every reason to flash a smile off the floor. She had remade the Republican leadership in her image.

Ms Greene’s role in the coup that led to Mr Johnson – an ardent opponent of abortion who introduced a national version of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation – should not surprise anyone. She is a key figure in the rise of right-wing extremism that pervades the Republican body politic.

What was indeed more surprising was how much the rest of the GOP went along with her to assist Mr Johnson’s ascent. Mr Johnson is a zealot of the highest order, someone who worked for the hard-right Alliance Defending Freedom; an ardent opponent of abortion who wants to restrict the rights of LGBT+ people and who served as Donald Trump’s Howitzer in Congress to overturn the 2020 election results.

But his fervor for theocratic policies did not impede his ability to unite nearly every faction of the very divided House Republican conference. Indeed, many of the Republicans who had previously raised serious objections to creeping fanaticism in the party brushed off these concerns as technicalities.

Mr Johnson’s triumph signifies the wholesale victory of the hardliners within the conference who had engaged in a bitter 15-year-civil war with the House Republican establishment.

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VIDEO: Mike Johnson addresses congress for first time as House speaker

Thursday 26 October 2023 00:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Trump shares screenshot of private texts from House speaker candidate

Thursday 26 October 2023 00:45 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump shared private texts between himself and short-lived Speaker of the House hopeful Congressman Chuck Fleischmann on Truth Social.

The texts claimed that all of the GOP Speaker hopefuls were backing Mr Trump, according to Fox Chattanooga.

Mr Fleischmann was among six candidates who were under consideration for House speaker after Majority Whip Tom Emmer exited the race on Tuesday.

The House Republicans ultimately tossed their support behind Congressman Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Mr Fleischmann was among those who publicly backed Mr Johnson, writing on Twitter that he would be a “great and strong Speaker of the House” and that he would vote for him when his name goes to the floor for a vote.

About an hour before Mr Fleischmann made the tweet, Mr Trump shared an image of a text the congressman reportedly sent him.

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VIDEO: Donald Trump says he will ring and congratulate Mike Johnson on speakership

01:30 , Gustaf Kilander

‘Please tell President Trump'

02:15 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump shared private texts between himself and short-lived Speaker of the House hopeful Congressman Chuck Fleischmann on Truth Social.

The text said the following:

“I’m in speaker race now

Please tell President Trump

Thanks

Five left

Voting now

All candidates now 100 percent trump

All 5

I preached Trump in my speech”

Biden unconcerned over House Speaker Mike Johnson’s election subversion record

03:00 , Andrew Feinberg

President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he is not concerned that newly installed House Speaker Mike Johnson will attempt to unlawfully block him from serving a second term if he wins next year’s presidential election.

Mr Biden was asked about the possibility during a press conference alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the White House Rose Garden, just minutes after the House’s Republican majority voted unanimously to install Mr Johnson as successor to ousted former speaker Kevin McCarthy after a chaotic 22-day interregnum.

The Louisiana congressman was a staunch supporter of former president Donald Trump during the ex-president’s attempt to remain in office despite having lost the 2020 election. He frequently promoted outlandish conspiracy theories about non-existent voter fraud and rigged voting machines which Trump allies had floated to explain his loss, and marshalled House GOP support for a failed lawsuit that sought to have the US Supreme Court throw out electoral votes from swing states won by Mr Biden.

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‘Just like I was not worried about the last guy being able to overturn the election'

04:00 , Andrew Feinberg

President Joe Biden told reporters he is not worried that Mr Johnson’s record presages how the new Speaker will act if he is in office when the 2024 election is certified following another victory over Mr Trump, who is currently the likely GOP presidential nominee despite facing more than 90 felony charges in four separate jurisdictions.

“Just like I was not worried about the last guy being able to overturn the election,” said the president, who added that Mr Trump’s legal team had a losing record of “about 60 lawsuits” during the period between the November 2020 election and 6 January 2021, the day a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in hopes of thwarting certification of the results.

“I understand the Constitution,” he added.

Democrat representative celebrates her wife in apparent rebuke to Mike Johnson’s anti-LGBT+ record

05:00 , Billal Rahman

Watch the moment a democrat representative celebrates her wife in an apparent rebuke to Mike Johnson’s anti-LGBT+ record during the vote for House speaker.

Angie Craig, the Democratic representative from Minnesota’s 2nd congressional district wished her wife “a happy wedding anniversary” at the fourth vote for the speakership.

Ms Craig is the first openly LGBT+ mother in the United States House of Representatives.

The remarks are seemingly a response to Trump-backed Mike Johnson’s long-running anti-LGBTQ record in Congress.

Mr Johnson was elected House speaker on Wednesday, 25 October, after 22 days since the removal of Kevin McCarthy.

House finally has a speaker as Mike Johnson wins after weeks of chaos

06:00 , Eric Garcia

House Republicans overwhelmingly elected Rep Mike Johnson (R-LA) to be the next speaker of the House after 22 days where the House of Representatives had no leader amid turmoil across the globe and the need to pass spending bills next month.

Mr Johnson, the former deputy whip for House Republicans, won 220 votes on the floor after House Republicans coalesced around him on Tuesday evening. His ascent came after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer dropped out a mere four hours after the House Republican conference nominated him to be speaker.

Republicans from all factions of the conference cheered Mr Johnson and whistled on the floor, chanting his name.

After conservatives, led by former president Donald Trump, revolted against Mr Emmer, he removed himself from the running and after another contest, Mr Johnson emerged victorious.

A former attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom, Mr Johnson is considered an arch-social conservative staunchly opposed to abortion. Earlier this year, he introduced legislation that would have made it illegal to transport a person under the age of 18 across state lines to obtain an abortion without parental notification.

READ MORE

An ardent opponent of LGBTQ+ rights

07:00 , Eric Garcia

Rep Mike Johnson is an ardent opponent of LGBTQ+ rights. In response, Rep Angie Craig (D-MN), the first openly gay mother in Congress, said “Happy anniversary to my wife,” before casting her vote for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

In addition, in December 2020, Mr Johnson, a lawyer by trade, filed an amicus brief on behalf of himself and 125 other House Republicans for a lawsuit filed by Texas to overturn the election results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Despite his hard-right bent, many Republicans from swing districts cast their vote for him on the floor enthusiastically.

Johnson faces numerous challenges leading the House

08:00 , Eric Garcia

The vote came 22 days after the ouster of former speaker Kevin McCarthy after Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a motion to vacate the chair, which triggered a non-confidence vote. That in turn triggered a three-week frenzy to find a new speaker.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan then faced off to become the nominee, but as soon as Mr Scalise beat Mr Jordan, arch-conservatives rebelled and pledged to oppose Mr Scalise on the floor, which led to him removing himself from the running.

In response, Republicans nominated Mr Jordan, who failed after three votes last week before Republicans voted in a secret ballot to drop him.

Mr Johnson now faces numerous challenges leading the House. The House must pass some kind of spending bill before 17 November to keep the government open. In the same respect, Republicans and Democrats hope to pass a bill to provide aid to Israel, while many Republicans oppose a supplemental package to aid Ukraine.

VIDEO: Mike Johnson addresses congress for first time as House speaker

09:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Trump shares screenshot of private texts from House speaker candidate

10:00 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump shared private texts between himself and short-lived Speaker of the House hopeful Congressman Chuck Fleischmann on Truth Social.

The texts claimed that all of the GOP Speaker hopefuls were backing Mr Trump, according to Fox Chattanooga.

Mr Fleischmann was among six candidates who were under consideration for House speaker after Majority Whip Tom Emmer exited the race on Tuesday.

The House Republicans ultimately tossed their support behind Congressman Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Mr Fleischmann was among those who publicly backed Mr Johnson, writing on Twitter that he would be a “great and strong Speaker of the House” and that he would vote for him when his name goes to the floor for a vote.

About an hour before Mr Fleischmann made the tweet, Mr Trump shared an image of a text the congressman reportedly sent him.

READ MORE

‘Please tell President Trump'

11:00 , Graig Graziosi

Former president Donald Trump shared private texts between himself and short-lived Speaker of the House hopeful Congressman Chuck Fleischmann on Truth Social.

The text said the following:

“I’m in speaker race now

Please tell President Trump

Thanks

Five left

Voting now

All candidates now 100 percent trump

All 5

I preached Trump in my speech”

VIDEO: Donald Trump says he will ring and congratulate Mike Johnson on speakership

12:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Biden unconcerned over House Speaker Mike Johnson’s election subversion record

13:00 , Andrew Feinberg

President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he is not concerned that newly installed House Speaker Mike Johnson will attempt to unlawfully block him from serving a second term if he wins next year’s presidential election.

Mr Biden was asked about the possibility during a press conference alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the White House Rose Garden, just minutes after the House’s Republican majority voted unanimously to install Mr Johnson as successor to ousted former speaker Kevin McCarthy after a chaotic 22-day interregnum.

The Louisiana congressman was a staunch supporter of former president Donald Trump during the ex-president’s attempt to remain in office despite having lost the 2020 election. He frequently promoted outlandish conspiracy theories about non-existent voter fraud and rigged voting machines which Trump allies had floated to explain his loss, and marshalled House GOP support for a failed lawsuit that sought to have the US Supreme Court throw out electoral votes from swing states won by Mr Biden.

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‘I understand the Constitution'

14:00 , Andrew Feinberg

President Joe Biden told reporters he is not worried that Mr Johnson’s record presages how the new Speaker will act if he is in office when the 2024 election is certified following another victory over Mr Trump, who is currently the likely GOP presidential nominee despite facing more than 90 felony charges in four separate jurisdictions.

“Just like I was not worried about the last guy being able to overturn the election,” said the president, who added that Mr Trump’s legal team had a losing record of “about 60 lawsuits” during the period between the November 2020 election and 6 January 2021, the day a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in hopes of thwarting certification of the results.

“I understand the Constitution,” he added.