Johnson Re-elected House Speaker With 218 Votes on First Ballot as 119th Congress Opens
On January 3, 2025, the 119th United States Congress convened at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the House of Representatives held its election for Speaker. The incumbent Speaker, Republican Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana, was re-elected as the 56th Speaker of the House on the first roll-call ballot, defeating Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries by 218 votes to 215.
A total of 434 members-elect voted, and 218 votes were needed for a majority. Early in the count Johnson stood at only 216: Republican Thomas Massie voted for Tom Emmer, while Ralph Norman and Keith Self voted for other candidates. Before the result was formally announced by the Clerk, Norman and Self switched their votes to Johnson, bringing him to 218; Massie's single vote remained with Emmer, for a final tally of Johnson 218, Jeffries 215 and Emmer 1.
In the nominations, Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain placed Johnson's name before the House and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar nominated Jeffries; Representatives Virginia Foxx, Joseph Morelle, Bryan Steil and Norma Torres served as tellers. President-elect Donald Trump had publicly endorsed Johnson's re-election ahead of the vote.
Johnson first became Speaker on October 25, 2023, succeeding the ousted Kevin McCarthy. Republicans held the House by 220 seats to 215 after the 2024 elections, but because member-elect Matt Gaetz did not take his seat, only 434 members voted on opening day, leaving the Republican margin of error at a single vote.
With the speakership settled, the House moved on to swearing in its members and adopting its rules, ahead of the joint session of Congress on January 6 to certify the 2024 presidential election results.
Related: Congress Certifies 2024 Election Results: Trump 312 to Harris 226, With Harris Presiding
(Source: United States Congress)
Source: United States Congress
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：众议院议长 Mike Johnson 的官方肖像。（美国国会，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons） / Photo: Official portrait of House Speaker Mike Johnson. (United States Congress, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
