Video: Conservative Mike Johnson Elected Speaker, Addresses Congress
Rep. Mike Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, won election as the new speaker of the House on Wednesday, ending three weeks of chaos since Rep. Kevin McCarthy's historic ouster.
Johnson, a little-known lawmaker who is now second in line for the presidency, attracted the support of all 220 Republican members in attendance, surpassing the 215-vote total that was required to win. All 209 Democrats voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the party's House leader.
"The people's House is back in business," Johnson told colleagues before being sworn in.
Johnson was the party's fourth nominee for speaker in three weeks, having taken the place of Rep. Tom Emmer, whose candidacy lasted all of four hours on Tuesday. Two other previous candidates, Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, withdrew their names from consideration earlier in the process after failing to unite the party's various factions.
Speaker Mike Johnson took the oath of office and a victory lap upon formally clinching the speaker's gavel, calling on the passage of conservative priorities while also emphasizing bipartisanship.
"I want to say to the American people&we hear you. We know the challenges you're facing. We know there's a lot going on in our country," Johnson said in his acceptance speech. "Our mission here is to serve you well."
Johnson laid out concerns over unauthorized border crossings, the mushrooming national debt and more, sparking applause from Republicans in the chamber and silence from seated Democrats.
"We're going to fight. We're going to fight vigorously over our core principles," Johnson said.
VIDEO SPEAKER ELECT JOHNSON ADDRESSES CONGRESS