The Definition of Insanity: GOP Avoids Repeat of 2023’s Speaker Fiasco
Last Friday, House Republicans elected Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson to serve as their speaker, marking a significant departure from the 2023 spectacle that saw former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy take four days and 15 rounds of voting to earn the gavel. This time around, the party avoided re-playing the same scenario, thanks in part to the 11th-hour calls from President-elect Donald Trump.
The lack of a viable alternative to Johnson, as seen in the first round of voting, was another key factor in his success. The three initial holdouts, who later flipped to support Johnson, had previously considered other contenders like Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Byron Donalds, and Rep. Tom Emmer, but ultimately did not present a serious alternative.
Trump’s endorsement of Johnson was also crucial in pushing him over the finish line. Unlike 2023, when Trump waited until the third failed ballot to endorse McCarthy, he reaffirmed his support for Johnson just before the vote.
As the GOP prepares to control all three branches of government, the importance of a functioning House of Representatives becomes clear. With the narrowest margin in nearly a century, passing bills will be a tightrope act, and the clock is already ticking. Once Trump takes office on January 20, it’s time for action, not more posturing.
The incoming president deserves a speaker of his choosing, and Trump made his support clear in a phone call to the initial holdouts, emphasizing the need to get to work. With a two-seat majority, Speaker Johnson has his work cut out for him, but this early success marks a positive step in the right direction, and a chance to learn from the past.
