Mike Johnson elected as US House Speaker

Following weeks of party infighting that left the House in disarray, Rep. Mike Johnson won the speakership on Wednesday without losing any GOP votes. The lawmaker from Louisiana has been an outspoken advocate for the late President Donald Trump and played a significant role in the congressional effort to rig the 2020 election.

Johnson received 220 votes, while Democrat Hakeem Jeffries received 209 votes. The GOP backed Johnson with unanimity. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Republican, did not participate in the vote.

Since former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed from office more than three weeks ago, Republicans have been under increasing pressure to choose a new speaker.

Since then, the House has essentially remained in a frozen state, which is disastrous given that Congress has a November funding deadline and a developing crisis.