Republican Mike Johnson elected US House speaker

Republican Mike Johnson elected US House speaker

The US House of Representatives has elected Republican Mike Johnson as its speaker after a turbulent three weeks that left the rudderless chamber unable to carry out its basic duties.

The 220 to 209 vote on Wednesday elevated third-term congressman Johnson, 51, to a speaker’s chair that has been vacant since Kevin McCarthy was removed on October 3 by a small group of hardline Republicans in response to a deal with Democrats that averted a partial government shutdown.

In the weeks that followed, Republicans who narrowly control the House considered and rejected three possible replacements before settling on Johnson, a Louisiana lawyer backed by former President Donald Trump who spent years advancing conservative policies, such as school prayer.