House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, is facing a tough reelection battle as a new Congress convenes. As the second in line to the presidency, Johnson will need almost every Republican vote to retain his position. Although he has the endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump, some far-right Republicans have expressed frustration with Johnson’s leadership. Johnson, 52, became speaker almost by accident in 2023 after Republicans struggled to replace Kevin McCarthy. While he is well-liked across the conference, his handling of major funding fights has turned some allies into detractors.
With Republicans holding a narrow 220-215 majority in the House, Johnson’s reelection is not guaranteed. It would take only two GOP lawmakers voting for other candidates to deny him a majority for the speakership, leading to more rounds of voting. The House cannot function without a speaker, as the speaker serves as the presiding officer and administrative head of the institution. In the event that the speaker is removed from office, the House must elect a new speaker to continue its operations. Electing a new speaker is the first order of business for the House after a new session of Congress begins.
Any member of the House can be nominated for speaker, regardless of party affiliation. While tradition dictates that the speaker is usually a sitting member of the House, it is not a requirement. Nominees for speaker are selected through closed-door party votes, with the official nominee typically receiving the party’s support. Lawmakers are not obligated to vote for their party’s nominated candidate, which can lead to a messy and unpredictable process. Once the House is in a quorum, nominating speeches will be made on behalf of the nominees before voting begins.
To become speaker, a candidate needs a majority of the votes from House members who are present and voting. Historically, the magic number of votes required has been 218 out of the 435 members of the House. However, previous speakers have won with fewer votes due to members voting “present” instead of calling out a name. If Johnson does not reach a majority on the first ballot, the clerk will likely proceed with additional roll call votes. Passing of the gavel signifies the transition of power from one party leader to another, with the outgoing speaker usually handing over the gavel to the successor.
Once a speaker candidate secures a majority of votes, a bipartisan committee will escort the speaker-elect to the chair on the dais where the oath of office is administered. Given that Johnson is already the speaker, it is likely that Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader, will hand Johnson the gavel. With the future leadership of the House at stake, the outcome of the speaker election will have significant implications for the direction of the new Congress. The process of electing a speaker is a crucial and ceremonial event that sets the tone for the legislative session and reflects the dynamics within the House.
