Election ends weeks of deadlock that followed removal of Kevin McCarthy from post on October 3rd
Republicans applaud as Louisiana congressman Mike Johnson is elected speaker of the US House of Representatives. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesLouisiana Republican Mike Johnson, a vocal supporter of former US president Donald Trump, was elected speaker of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday.
As the vote commenced on Wednesday, Republican lawmakers who narrowly control the chamber called out the name of Mr Johnson , the Louisiana conservative who won his party’s nomination late on Tuesday. None voted for other candidates, in an early sign that Mr Johnson might succeed where other hopefuls had fallen short. Democrats voted for their leader, Hakeem Jeffries.
Mr Johnson declined to answer a question about that effort on Tuesday night, while other Republicans booed and heckled the reporter who asked the question.“When members of this body voted to reject the results of the 2020 election, they forfeited their ability to lead this chamber,” Democratic representative Pete Aguilar said on the House floor.
Several Republican lawmakers said they opposed Mr Emmer because he did not support Mr Trump’s challenges to the election results. Mr Johnson will confront the same challenges that confounded Mr McCarthy. They include the demands of the caucus’s hardline members and the reality that with a Democratic majority in the Senate and Mr Biden occupying the Oval Office, no laws can currently be passed in Washington without bipartisan support.
Mr Emmer was the third nominee to drop out after bids by Steve Scalise, the number two House Republican, and conservative leader Jim Jordan were also spiked by party infighting.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Republicans nominate Mike Johnson for House Speaker after Tom Emmer bows outJohnson becomes the fourth nominee after the House ousted Kevin McCarthy
Read more »
Carl Frampton: Having Mike Tyson in rivals corner could rattle Tyson FuryTyson Fury takes on Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
Read more »
Mike Ashley increases stake in Boohoo to 16.5 per centThe high street retail tycoon has spent almost £23 million buying shares in the company this month
Read more »