Mike Johnson re-elected speaker: These are the three best moments of the dramatic vote
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., barely held the gavel in a tight vote Friday afternoon.
Republicans eager to be sworn in President-elect Trump later this month and capitalize on their control of the House, Senate and White House have avoided the same fate in the past two presidential elections.
After some back-and-forth between Trump and Johnson, in the end Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the only Republican to defy leadership and vote against Johnson.
Here’s a look at the best first-ballot moments 119th Congress:
1. Five Republicans refuse to vote; three vote against Johnson
Johnson appeared to be headed for defeat when five Republicans sat silently as their clerk called their names to vote. Three others — Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas — voted against Johnson.
Massie voted for House Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.; Norman voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; and Self voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.
At the end of the voting, the names of those who refused to vote on the first mention were called again. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.; Andy Biggs, R-Arizona; Andrew Clyde, R-Ga.; Michael Cloud, R-Texas; and Chip Roy, R-Texas, ended up voting for Johnson.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., barely held the gavel in Friday’s acrimonious vote. (Tom Williams)
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2. Trump calls two GOP defectors
Trump then spoke to Norman and Self on the phone and urged them to switch their vote for Johnson, both congressmen confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Two people who spoke to Fox News Digital said Rep. Nancy Mace, RS.C., put Trump in touch with Self and Norman by phone after they voted against Johnson.
Mace would not comment, but Fox News Digital saw her and Johnson hugging on the House floor after they and others were in a side room with those who abstained.
Mace was also earlier seen having intense conversations with Norman outside the gym.
Massie was implacable – he had long decided that Johnson was not the right person for the job. But Johnson could only afford to lose one vote and keep the hammer.
Johnson also huddled with Self and Norman. House leaders did not formally suspend the vote while they figured out a way forward.
Tail. Ralph Norman, RS.C., initially voted against Johnson. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Norman and Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, changed their votes after speaking with Johnson and President-elect Trump. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
3. Self and Norman switch their voices
About an hour after voting for the others, a pair of defectors switched their votes, fulfilling Johnson’s wish.
Self said he changed his vote to help further “advance Trump’s agenda.”
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“Trump’s agenda is paramount. Trump’s agenda is paramount, and we have to support the processes in the House of Representatives to make sure we have the strongest negotiating team for the reconciliation package to come. So, again, it was all about making Trump’s agenda more successful,” Self said. .
Norman said he spoke with Trump but was eventually convinced to change his mind because of the promise he got from Johnson to make “real change.”
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Trump “just said Mike was the only one who could get elected,” Norman said.
He said Johnson did not offer him a quid pro quo but “a commitment that things will change”.
Fox News’ Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
