 "Johnson 'loses' first House speaker vote, contest moves to second round")
Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a likely defeat in the first round of voting for House speaker, having lost the backing of at least three GOP members.
According to a CNN report, Rep. Keith Self voted for fellow Freedom Caucus member Byron Donalds, while Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Ralph Norman of North Carolina also declined to support Johnson.
In addition to these votes against him, six Republicans chose to abstain. Those members — GOP Reps. Andy Biggs, Andrew Clyde, Michael Cloud, Paul Gosar, Andy Harris and Chip Roy — all were silent when their names were called, though they will have another chance to vote at the end of the roll call.
Although Self has been positioned near the defectors, he has largely remained quiet. In contrast, Rep. Victoria Spartz, a previous holdout, cast her vote for Johnson.
Meanwhile, while the first House speaker vote has not yet been called, Johnson is on track to lose with the current breakdown, and the House is poised to go immediately into a second vote without a break.
Johnson faces a challenging situation due to the narrowest House majority in nearly a century, allowing for little margin of error.
Johnson can only tolerate one GOP defection if all lawmakers are present and vote.
While the Louisiana Republican has the support of President-elect Donald Trump, it will be House Republicans who will decide whether to reelect him to his post as Speaker of the House.
Far-right Republicans have at times grown frustrated with Johnson’s leadership and are prone to demanding concessions when their votes become essential.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA flop by Johnson could throw Monday’s congressional certification of Trump’s 2024 election victory into turmoil without a House speaker.
The election of the speaker must be completed before the House can take any other actions, including swearing in its members, adopting a rules package and, eventually, certifying President-elect Trump’s victory Monday.
To be elected speaker, a candidate must win a majority of votes out of all votes cast. If all 435 members of the House vote, then a majority is 218 votes.
There is expected to be one vacancy when the House convenes for the vote. Former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has said he won’t take the seat he was elected to in the new Congress.
That leaves 434 members with 219 Republicans and 215 Democrats. If all 434 vote, it takes 218 to win.
With inputs from agencies
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