Before the 119th Congress can be sworn in, a speaker must be elected. Republicans currently hold the majority in the House for this Congress, giving them the responsibility of selecting a speaker. The current House Speaker, Mike Johnson, is seeking re-election as the leader of the chamber. While no other candidates have officially announced their candidacy at this time, past years have seen alternative options arise during the voting process.
With a narrow four-seat majority in the chamber, Republicans hold 219 seats compared to the Democrats’ 215. The swearing-in of House officers by Speaker Kevin McCarthy is scheduled to take place at the U.S. Capitol on January 7, 2023. The GOP majority is expected to decrease further once Trump’s Cabinet picks, Reps. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), assume their positions following Senate confirmation, which is anticipated to occur several weeks after the speaker vote.
In order to win the speakership, a candidate must secure an outright majority. Given the GOP’s seat count, a Republican nominee would need at least 218 votes if all 434 members participate in the voting process. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has expressed his decision not to support Speaker Johnson, while other GOP members, such as Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), are still considering their options.
House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has stated that Democrats will not intervene to assist Johnson if he fails to garner enough support from GOP members. The process has seen challenges, including failed government funding bills and divisions within the Republican party. Despite facing dissent from some colleagues, Johnson’s bill ultimately passed with unanimous Democrat support.
The speaker election is set to occur on Friday, just prior to Congress certifying the Electoral College results for Trump. President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Mike Johnson for the position, emphasizing the urgency of addressing current issues. The House cannot proceed with official business, including certifying election results, until a speaker is elected and the new Congress is sworn in.
Social post on Monday.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
Original article source: What to know about the race for Speaker of the House
