Mike Johnson of Louisiana elected speaker of the U.S. House after three weeks of stalemate – Pennsylvania Capital-Star

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Wednesday voted for Louisiana’s Mike Johnson as speaker in a chamber that has been frozen for more than three weeks after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted.

In a 220-209 party-line vote, all Republicans present backed Johnson. All Democrats present voted for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York nominated Johnson, 51, who represents his state’s 4th District, saying the conservative congressman “epitomizes what it means to be a leader.”

“Today is the day that House Republicans will humbly look in our hearts and elect Mike Johnson as speaker of the people’s House,” Stefanik said.

Democratic Conference Chair Pete Aguilar of California nominated Jeffries, calling him a “far contrast from who Republicans nominated.”

“The most pressing needs of everyday Americans are his North Star,” Aguilar said.

Johnson, who does not have a strong bipartisan track record, will be tasked with working with the Democratic-controlled Senate on a quickly approaching Nov.17 government funding deadline, and critical legislation such as the recent nearly $106 billion supplemental request from the Biden administration to fund Ukraine, Israel and global aid and U.S border security.

A new plaque designates the office in the U.S. Capitol of Speaker Mike Johnson after his election on Oct. 25, 2023. (Samantha Dietel/States Newsroom)

Johnson has voted against several recent bipartisan pieces of legislation such as the infrastructure law, a gun safety bill signed into law and the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Johnson was one of more than 100 House Republicans who voted to block Pennsylvania and Arizona’s 2020 presidential election results following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

In advance of the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 Johnson led a statement with 36 fellow Republicans outlining opposition to the Electoral College results in Georgia and Michigan as well.

“Speaker Johnson voted against the PACT Act—a bill to help my fellow toxic-exposed veterans get the healthcare we need and earned after being sent off to our country’s wars,” Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-17th District), who is a Navy veteran, said in a statement. “He voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. He voted against the CHIPS and Science Act to revitalize American manufacturing. He voted against House efforts to investigate the January 6th assault on the Capitol. He supports a national abortion ban. And this is just a sampling of his extremism.”

Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-12th District) said in a statement that Johnson was “more committed to fighting right-wing ideological projects than working to address the actual problems Western Pennsylvania families face,” adding that someone “with disparaging remarks against people who have gotten abortions, who has such vile views on LGBTQ folks, should not be occupying the third-most powerful position in our country.”

The Capital-Star staff contributed.

This is a developing story that will be updated.

Originally published at www.penncapital-star.com,by Ariana Figueroa