Related video: Republicans nominate Mike Johnson in fourth attempt to fill speaker’s chair
Rep Mike Johnson is now the latest lawmaker to secure the GOP nomination to bepk the next House speaker – becoming the fourth nominee in just two weeks as the Republican party remains wracked by infighting and an inability to unite around a single candidate.
The Louisiana congressman was picked by his party on Tuesday night, just hours after the third nominee Tom Emmer abruptly pulled out.
With just 128 votes in a secret closed-door session, he – like the previous three nominees – still has a major uphill battle to secure the 217 votes needed to take the gavel.
Mr Emmer’s speaker bid lasted only four hours before he dropped out in the face of steadfast opposition from Trump allies.
The former president attacked Mr Emmer as a “Globalist RINO” in a Truth Social post. He later tried to claim credit for “killing” Mr Emmer’s bid.
The House of Representatives has now been without a speaker for three weeks since Kevin McCarthy was ousted by a rebel faction led by Maga Republican Matt Gaetz.
