House Republicans were jubilant when they coalesced around a new speaker nominee after a day of marathon-closed door meetings on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
GOP Conference Vice Chair Mike Johnson, R-La., became speaker-designate on Tuesday evening, the fourth Republican nominee in three weeks.<\/p>\n
But House GOP lawmakers insisted that their conference is finally on the same page and ready to unite under Johnson\u2019s leadership \u2014 teeing up a House-wide vote Wednesday just after noon.<\/p>\n
\u2018My wife\u2026and I were talking, and I said, if we can get somebody like a Mike Johnson, we would be very fortunate,\u2019 Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told reporters after the vote.<\/p>\n
\u2018I think he would be an excellent choice because\u2026 he\u2019s very cerebral,\u2019 Burchett said. \u2018And he\u2019s kind of a goober\u2026 but I dig that about him. There\u2019s an old saying in east Tennessee, \u2018He\u2019s cleaner than a hound\u2019s tooth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Burchett was one of eight House Republicans who voted to oust ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., three weeks ago Tuesday. He said Johnson \u2018brings something to the table that\u2019s lacking in Washington.\u2019<\/p>\n
Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, one of the original 20 lawmakers to oppose McCarthy\u2019s speakership bid in January, called Johnson a \u2018capable\u2019 and \u2018good man.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018I think it was important to make sure that we got the right person for the American people,\u2019 he told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n
Johnson also scored the support of leadership like Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., the No. 2 House Republican who was tapped as McCarthy\u2019s original replacement \u2014 before dropping out of the race due to mounting opposition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Mike is honest, hardworking, and principled \u2014 he is a great man and will make a great speaker. I look forward to continuing to work with my good friend to get this country back on track and deliver results for American families who deserve better from Washington,\u2019 Scalise said in a statement.<\/p>\n
House Republicans had gathered earlier in the day for a speaker election where Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., came out on top. But opposition, including from former President Donald Trump, forced him to drop out hours later.<\/p>\n
GOP lawmakers hastily scheduled another candidate forum where Johnson emerged on top after previously coming in second to Emmer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A subsequent roll call vote where members were called upon by name to say whether they would support Johnson on the floor saw no one vote against him, and just a few lawmakers voting \u2018present.\u2019 Johnson vowed to uphold conservative values in a press conference after the vote, in which all the House Republicans present flanked him and jubilantly cheered.<\/p>\n
However, multiple lawmakers estimated that about 19 members were missing \u2014 a significant factor in the Wednesday vote.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., who opposed House Republicans\u2019 second speaker-designate, Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said \u2018I don\u2019t think so\u2019 when asked if the absences will pose a problem for Johnson.<\/p>\n
And Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., told Fox News Digital, \u2018All the different factions came together, and we\u2019re confident that the members who weren\u2019t here will recognize the unity that we have [and] importance of the mission ahead.\u2019<\/p>\n