Mike Johnson he did it. On Friday, he was re-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. And he succeeded on the first vote, in what was by no means an obvious result.
Although the Republicans retained control of the lower house in the last elections, their majority is not very large. And a small group of their deputies were not very convinced to confirm their support for the outgoing Speaker. In the end, Johnson he managed to win with 218 votes against the 215 collected by the minority leader, the Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries. Second TheHillit would have been the same that proved decisive Donald Trumpwhich allegedly convinced two of the Speaker’s Republican opponents to change their opinion at the last minute.
For the American president in pectore this is a notable political victory. Johnson he is one of his main allies at parliamentary level. And his re-election further certifies the significant influence of Trump on the Republican Party. Not only that. The Speaker’s victory also averts the chaotic scenario that occurred in January 2023, when Kevin McCarthy he was elected to the presidency of the Chamber after 15 votes. At this point, the tycoon can move towards the presidential inauguration on January 20th with a substantially united party in Congress.
And in fact he didn’t hesitate to rejoice. “Congratulations to the Speaker Mike Johnson for receiving an unprecedented vote of confidence in Congress. Mike will be a great Speaker and our country will benefit from it. The American people have waited four years for common sense, strength and leadership. He will get them now and America will be greater than ever!”, the tycoon said on Truth.
Johnson can now breathe a sigh of relief. On the other hand, however, he must prepare for two particularly intense years of legislature. First of all, he will have to manage the various currents that characterize the Republican parliamentary group in the Chamber: the tensions seem to be dormant at the moment, but they could return to the surface. Secondly, Trump consider Johnson a key figure to advance his own programmatic agenda in Congress, especially on taxes and the fight against illegal immigration. Without neglecting the cuts in federal spending, which the new Department for Energy Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. The Speaker will have to be able to juggle with pragmatism and flexibility. It’s not an easy goal. But he can do it. Today, from a political point of view, he is certainly much stronger than when, as a little-known congressman from Louisiana, he found himself almost suddenly catapulted to the helm of the House in October 2023.
