Republican Mike Johnson has narrowly retained his position as House Speaker in a dramatic vote that signals the beginning of complete Republican control in Washington.
Johnson faced a razor-thin margin, able to lose only two votes due to the slim majority Republicans hold in Congress. Despite the close call, he managed to secure re-election after extensive lobbying efforts.
President-elect Donald Trump had previously endorsed Johnson for the role, stating, “A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party.” The House Speaker position is one of the most influential roles in Washington, overseeing the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress and standing second in line to the presidency, following the vice president.
Following his re-election, Johnson shared several plans on X, including the establishment of a “working group comprised of independent experts” to collaborate with the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This initiative, which Trump appointed Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to lead, aims to review audits of federal agencies and congressional entities.
Johnson emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility, stating, “If we want to restore fiscal responsibility, we must start by being transparent about the dollars that are spent, address the issues we find, and then hold those accountable who have misspent funds.” His plans indicate a strong focus on government accountability and efficiency as he moves forward in his role.
