Republican Mike Johnson narrowly secured his re-election as Speaker of the US House of Representatives on Friday, winning after a tense and highly anticipated vote, BBC reported.
The win solidified Republican control of Congress ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House later this month.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, faced significant pressure heading into the vote. Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie made his opposition clear, calling Johnson’s leadership “unacceptable” in an interview.
Meanwhile, two additional Republicans, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas, initially voted for other candidates.
The impasse forced Johnson to leave the House floor for last-minute negotiations. He persuaded both Norman and Self to change their votes, pledging to include more conservative lawmakers in decision-making and promising greater transparency in legislative processes.
“When we left that small room, he convinced me,” Norman told reporters, highlighting Johnson’s assurances of a more collaborative approach.
Throughout the process, Trump remained a critical player. Trump, who endorsed Johnson, contacted lawmakers during the vote to underscore the importance of Republican unity.
Norman admitted that Trump’s calls played a role in his decision, with the president-elect framing the moment as a historic opportunity to implement a Republican-led agenda across the legislative and executive branches.
“Trump said, ‘Norman, we have the most opportunity we’ve ever had — the House, Senate, a trifecta. You don’t get that opportunity often,’” Norman recounted.
Self also credited Trump’s involvement, explaining that Johnson’s commitment to involving members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus helped secure his support.