Mike Johnson wins GOP nod to remain House speaker with Trump's backing
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) won the GOP nomination Wednesday for a full, two-year term in the top job, after running unopposed despite hardliners threatening to put up an challenger.
Why it matters: Johnson will need 218 votes in January to retain his gavel, with a tiny majority to pull it off. But President-elect Trump told Republicans on Wednesday he's 100% with Johnson.
- Johnson, who won with nod via unanimous voice vote, was once viewed by many as an interim speaker after he replaced Kevin McCarthy following McCarthy's ouster the middle of the 118th Congress.
- Now he's closer to holding the reins as part of a GOP trifecta in Washington next year.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) was unanimously elected to remain in his post, which entails setting the legislative agenda and scheduling the floor.
- Scalise is expected to be one of the most powerful majority leaders in modern history: The Louisiana Republican will be the longest-serving member of House leadership next year.
- Scalise is the only one to have served during the last Trump administration in a leadership role, providing experience to the team in navigating the dynamics between Congress and the White House.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) will also stay on in the new Congress.
- Emmer — who also ran unopposed for his role —will continue to be tasked with rallying support behind key pieces of legislation with a small majority as they look to move major bills now that the GOP is poised to hold both chambers and the White House.
In the highest-ranking contested race, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) is set to replace House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as the chamber's No. 4 Republican.
- McClain prevailed over Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) in the race to replace Stefanik, whom Trump tapped to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations.
- Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) will stay on on as the House GOP's conference vice chairman, where he will assist in messaging efforts.
- National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) will serve another term leading the House GOP's campaign arm.
- And Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) — the current chairman of the Republican Study Committee — managed to oust current House Republican Policy Chairman Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) in the race for Palmer's leadership position.
Zoom out: Senate Republicans, meanwhile, picked a new leader for the first time in 18 years, opting earlier Wednesday for South Dakotan John Thune (S.D.) over Sens. John Cornyn (Texas) and Rick Scott (Fla.).
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
