Mike Johnson Elected Speaker, Sending Shockwaves Across the Nation

In a united show of force by the slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson was re-elected as Speaker, making a huge impact on the path of partisan politics over the next two years.

Johnson, previously hated by many members of his own party for often willing to compromise on certain issues like spending, was able to garner a majority after the second vote. On his first vote, he was just two votes away from obtaining the majority, with three Republicans including Thomas Massie and Keith Self voting against him, leading to a second round of voting.

However, unlike Kevin McCarthy's traumatizing path to the speakership in 2022, Johnson was quickly able to muster support. Two of these representatives, apart from Massie, ended up voting for Johnson after the second round, electing him speaker with a 217 majority. Although slim, it did give Republicans the Speakership, something they would need in order to make policy changes during the incoming Trump presidency.

Also, unlike McCarthy, Johnson did not need to make very many concessions to these stray Republicans, rather just assurances. As Keith Self said on X, "My sole focus was advancing the Trump agenda. To ensure this, I expressed concerns to Speaker Johnson about fiscal responsibility and holding the line on deficit spending—key priorities for my constituents.   After receiving firm assurances from the Speaker, that Republicans in the House will have strong representation during the budget reconciliation process—a cornerstone of President Trump’s agenda—I changed my initial vote." Thus, Republicans became united in today's vote.

This is very important for the future of conservative policy. With a very narrow majority in both the House and the Senate, trimming away just a few congressmen could lead to a policy deadlock; in a force of unity, however, they could avoid the slim majority by actually getting the simple majority to pass legislation, helping the Trump agenda go through.

In his speech, Johnson repeatedly emphasized similar policies that Donald Trump has advocated for, like Closing the Border and extending the Trump Tax Cuts. Of course, he received many boos from Democrats, but with a possible united Republican delegation, their votes may not matter. As long as Republicans stay united, they can pass the legislation they need.

Better for Republicans, this 2024 election cycle saw the installment of less moderate, more conservative Republican congressman who are likely to vote with their party's agenda, bolstering their chances of making policy changes.