House Republicans selected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Tuesday night to be their fourth nominee for speaker in the three weeks since Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was voted out of the role.
Johnson, who is the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, secured victory on Capitol Hill after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) dropped out as the third nominee — a designation Emmer held for roughly four hours — becoming the third unsuccessful GOP pick joining House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).
The next House floor vote could happen as early as Wednesday, as Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) gaveled the chamber out until noon. Because Republicans have a narrow majority in the House, Johnson can only afford to lose a handful of GOP votes to win the speakership if all Democrats oppose his bid. So far, Democrats have rallied behind their nominee, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
