Exhausted House Republicans see fresh start in Mike Johnson speakership: ‘He’s a reconciler’

Republicans believe they’ve found a speaker who can overcome the weeks of division bred by Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-CA) dramatic ouster from House leadership.

The infighting began even before Republicans assumed the House majority, as hard-liners opposed and then grudgingly allowed McCarthy to become speaker in January, only to boot him from the job nine months later. But the chaos that ensued has deepened that rift as whisper campaigns and power plays forced the conference to cycle through three speaker nominees in three weeks.

Their fourth nominee, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), could unite the conference when the chamber holds a floor vote shortly after noon on Wednesday. No members voted against him in a roll call vote held after he clinched the nomination.