Mike Johnson to Be Least Experienced Speaker in Century

He gets 220 votes from House Republicans
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 25, 2023 12:58 PM CDT
Mike Johnson Gets the Votes Needed
Members applaud Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., left., after he was nominated as the Republican candidate, as House Republicans try to elect a speaker, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The fourth time was a charm for House Republicans, who on Wednesday managed to come together and get one of their own over the 217 mark. In the House's fourth round of voting to elect a speaker following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana—the fourth Republican nominee—managed to secure 220 votes, above the 217 needed. Democrat Hakeem Jeffries received 209. CNN reports the last GOP nominee to win the speaker's gavel in the first vote was Paul Ryan in 2017.

Johnson, a Trump supporter, has served in the House since 2016 and has been a low-ranking member. Time reports his rise to the top is nearly unprecedented: He will be "the least experienced Speaker in 140 years, with just four terms in the House and no senior leadership roles or full committee chairmanships under his belt." A political historian from Princeton notes there's traditionally a preference for a lawmaker who has established plenty of connections within the House and has robust institutional knowledge, as well as a strong fundraising ability. For comparison, McCarthy's campaign raised $28 million in the 2022 election cycle, to Johnson's $1.3 million. (More Mike Johnson stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X