Mr. Johnson, 51, was elevated to speaker as one of the least experienced lawmakers ever to serve in the position and he’ll be immediately tested in his ability to unite the fractious Republican Conference over critical government funding that is set to run out in a matter of weeks.
He’s now second-in-line to presidential succession and will oversee a 435-member House where he has served for only six years. Mr. Johnson’s election unlocked the House floor for legislative business for the first time since Oct. 3, when a small group of hardline conservatives exploited an obscure House rule and removed Mr. McCarthy because he decided to pass the stopgap funding bill.
“And as vice-chair of our conference, he has united all of our members to speak clearly and boldly on behalf of the American people,” Ms. Stefanik said. “ A friend to all and an enemy to none. Mike is strong, tough and fair. And above all, Mike is kind.” Mr. Johnson is pushing lawmakers to finish passing the remaining 2024 appropriations measures or otherwise support another stopgap spending bill that would expire either in January or April. All spending legislation will require compromising with the Democrat-led Senate, which does not support the kind of spending reductions Mr. Johnson’s conservative base in conference will insist upon.
Just a day earlier on Tuesday, the GOP was mired in gridlock, having rejected their third pick for speaker, Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, only four hours after he was nominated. By Tuesday night they had united around Mr. Johnson.