US House Speaker Mike Johnson was re-elected to the highest office in the lower house of the US Parliament on Tuesday after a protracted vote that highlighted persistent divisions among Republicans against US President-elect Donald Trump on Capitol Hill, Reuters reported, quoted by NOVA.
It initially appeared that Johnson would not receive the majority needed to retain his post in the hour-long roll call vote, but two Republican congressmen who had not supported him at first changed their votes to support him after more than half an hour of negotiations. He won his re-election with 218 votes "in favor" - the minimum number of votes needed for a majority.
Republicans control the House by a slim majority, with 219 to 215 Democrats. During the vote, lawmakers have the option to change their vote or cast their vote if they previously abstained.
The vote could be seen as an early indication of the party's ability to unite as it implements Trump's tax cuts and border controls. It could also test Trump's influence on Capitol Hill, where some Republicans have already shown a willingness to challenge him, according to Reuters.
House Republicans have been torn apart by internal divisions over the past two years. Johnson was elevated to speaker after the party voted no on his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, midway through his term.
In 2023, the House of Representatives went through 15 rounds of voting over four days before electing McCarthy as speaker.