Republican Mike Johnson of Louisiana was elected speaker of the House on Wednesday, following several unsuccessful bids from Jim Jordan.
Johnson won the support of all 220 Republicans who cast a ballot. He needed just 215 to win the vote. Hakeem Jeffries of New York received all 209 Democrat votes—four were absent.
“At this time of great crisis, it is our duty to work together, as previous generations of great leaders have, to face these great challenges and solve these great problems,” Johnson said in his first speech as the 56th speaker of the House. “We want our allies around the world to know that this body of lawmakers is reporting again to our duty stations. Let the enemies of freedom around the world hear us loud and clear: the people’s House is back in business.”
However, Johnson’s win has done little to curb the fears of those against the idea of Jordan stepping into the role. In fact, Jeffries offered a stark warning to the public ahead of the vote.
Leader Jeffries: "Mike Johnson was one of the chief architects of trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Mike Johnson also wants to end Social Security and Medicare as we know it." pic.twitter.com/M3Jwf9sRDt
— House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) October 25, 2023
“I don’t know Mike Johnson well. Based on his track record, he appears to be an extreme right-wing ideologue,” Jeffries expressed on “CNN This Morning.”
“Mike Johnson wants to criminalize abortion care and impose a nationwide ban. Mike Johnson was one of the chief architects of trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Mike Johnson also wants to end Social Security and Medicare as we know it. Those are extreme views,” Jeffries said. “And House Democrats will push back aggressively against that.”
The more we learn about Mike Johnson,
— Pam Keith, Esq. (@PamKeithFL) October 25, 2023
the more Merrick Garland’s refusal to hold seditionists in Congress accountable seems unconscionable!!
WHAT. THE. HELL. WAS. HE. THINKING!
The LAST thing you do is allow someone who plotted an attack on Congress to remain in power.
Despite serving as vice chairman of the Republican Study Conference, Johnson has never held a top position in Republican leadership.
“Johnson looks a lot like Jim Jordan’s revenge,” said Austin Sarat, a professor of law and political science at Amherst College, told The Washington Post. “He is someone who is up to his neck in election denialism, and that does not bode well for what is likely to happen in the House.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calls out House Republicans who helped incite the January 6 insurrection, moments after they just elected insurrectionist Mike Johnson to be the new House Speaker. pic.twitter.com/Y2QxpE35DC
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) October 25, 2023
