On January 3, 2025, Congressman Mike Johnson narrowly secured reelection as House Speaker on the first ballot, overcoming resistance from hard-right Republican holdouts. The tense proceedings marked a turbulent beginning to the new Congress, as a small faction of Republicans declined to vote for Johnson or backed other candidates. His struggles reflected the challenges of leading a fractured party, even with President-elect Donald Trump’s support. Trump, who will return to the White House with Republican control of both the House and Senate, personally called dissenting lawmakers to secure Johnson’s victory. The final tally stood at 218-215, highlighting Johnson’s slim margin of support.
In his first speech as Speaker, Johnson promised to “reject business as usual” and pledged to reduce the size of government drastically. However, his weak grip on leadership poses risks for Trump’s ambitious agenda, which includes significant tax cuts and mass deportations. The narrow vote underscored Johnson’s precarious position, even with backing from Trump, who posted on social media, “Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary.”
The Speaker’s election, traditionally a ceremonial moment, has become a high-stakes event, reflecting deep divisions within the Republican Party. Vice President Kamala Harris swore in senators, including newly elected party leaders such as John Thune as Republican Majority Leader and Chuck Schumer as Democratic Minority Leader. Meanwhile, Johnson faced a potential crisis, as his failure to secure the Speaker role could have disrupted Congress’s certification of Trump’s 2024 election victory. Johnson’s efforts, including late-night meetings and New Year’s Day at Mar-a-Lago with Trump, ultimately paid off when holdouts Ralph Norman and Keith Self switched their votes after Trump’s intervention.
Johnson’s narrow victory brings to mind the contentious election of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker in 2023, which took 15 rounds of voting. McCarthy was later ousted by his party, highlighting the perils of Republican leadership. Johnson’s slim majority, reduced further by recent Republican seat losses and Congressman Matt Gaetz’s resignation, leaves him reliant on nearly every Republican vote to advance party priorities. Opposition from within his party, such as Freedom Caucus member Congressman Chip Roy, underscores ongoing tensions. “Something MUST change,” Roy posted before eventually supporting Johnson.
To secure the Speaker role, Johnson reportedly made concessions to centrist and hard-right Republicans. A new House rule requires at least nine majority members to approve any resolution to oust the Speaker, increasing the threshold lowered under McCarthy. Freedom Caucus members, who helped deliver Johnson’s votes, demanded immigration reforms, federal spending cuts, and bans on congressional stock trading. Johnson now faces political hazing from colleagues who hold significant leverage, a reminder of his precarious position as a last-ditch choice for Speaker after other candidates failed.
The opening of the new Congress also featured historic milestones. In the Senate, Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland became the first two Black women to serve simultaneously, donning suffragette white for their swearing-in. Sen.-elect Andy Kim of New Jersey made history as the first Korean American in the chamber. Meanwhile, Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender member of Congress in the House, reflecting growing diversity in American politics.
The stakes are high as Republicans take control of Congress alongside Trump’s return to the presidency. Mike Johnson’s role as Speaker places him at the center of efforts to advance Trump’s ambitious 100-day agenda. He likened himself to a quarterback executing the President-elect’s political plays, but his slim majority and internal party divisions may complicate his ability to deliver. The Speaker’s election sets the tone for what promises to be a tumultuous legislative session, with Republicans seeking to capitalize on their unified government while navigating significant internal discord.