Mike Johnson was re-elected Speaker of the House on Friday after two GOP holdouts decided to change their votes before the second round of voting was set to begin.
It was a high-stakes election as the 52-year-old Louisiana Republican went into the day facing one of the tightest majority margins in House history — there was only room for one GOP rep to oppose him before he’d be blocked from winning the gavel.
Reps. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Keith Self (R-Texas) changed their votes after having initially voted for other candidates, leaving Johnson two votes short of clinching the speakership.
With 434 lawmakers in attendance, the threshold for Johnson to be elected Speaker of the House was 218
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the sole no vote.
Source:
New York Post