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From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 3, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 3, 2025
US House rejects Trump-backed speaker in first ballot
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson talks to reporters after passing the funding bill to avert the government shutdown at the Capitol in Washington, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Divided Republicans in the US House of Representatives have failed to elect a speaker in the opening round of voting as right-wing rebels defied incoming president Donald Trump to block the return of Mike Johnson.
The Louisiana lawmaker was unable to earn the support of a simple majority in the lower chamber of Congress, where the Republicans’ already threadbare majority was reduced to just 219-215 in November’s presidential election.
Johnson secured 216 votes, beating Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries by one — but with three Republicans not backing their leader, the process now goes to a second round.
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