During the recent House speaker election, Speaker Mike Johnson faced a setback as he lost support from at least three GOP members. Rep. Keith Self, a member of the Freedom Caucus, voted for Byron Donalds instead of Johnson. Reps. Thomas Massie and Ralph Norman also did not back Johnson, opting for Reps. Tom Emmer and Jim Jordan, respectively.
In addition to the three GOP votes for other candidates, several Republicans initially abstained from voting. Rep. Victoria Spartz, a prior holdout, ultimately voted for Johnson. Donalds, who was approached by lawmakers about running for speaker, declined the opportunity.
With the loss of support from key GOP members, Johnson's chances of winning the first round of voting for House speaker appear to be diminishing. He can only afford a single GOP defection if every lawmaker shows up and votes.
Rep. Keith Self, who stood alongside other defections, mostly remained quiet and reserved during the proceedings. The dynamics of the speaker election highlight the internal divisions within the GOP and the varying preferences among its members.
As the House speaker election unfolds, the shifting alliances and voting patterns among GOP members will continue to shape the outcome. The upcoming rounds of voting will be crucial in determining the next leader of the House and the direction of the party moving forward.
