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The first vote on Friday for Speaker of the House has fallen flat, with no Speaker yet elected, as three Republicans dug in their heels and voted for other random congress members instead of supporting former Speaker Mike Johnson for another two years.
The magic number of votes required for Speaker is 218. The first voted ended up with 216 votes for Johnson, and 215 votes for Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries, who was supported by all Democrat lawmakers.
However, with the narrow GOP majority, Johnson can only afford to lose one vote on the Republican side and still win the Speakership. Instead, he lost three votes in the first round.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voted for Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who is not running for Speaker.
.@RepThomasMassie votes for Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) for Speaker of the House. pic.twitter.com/F9YQuj0kpG
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 3, 2025
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) voted for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who is not running for Speaker.
.@RepRalphNorman votes for Rep. Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House. pic.twitter.com/I452RMmJSa
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 3, 2025
And Rep. Keith Self (R-Tex.) voted for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who is also not running for Speaker.
Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) votes for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) for Speaker. pic.twitter.com/pBMDaIo0v6
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 3, 2025
After the vote failed, Johnson was seen leaving the room with Self, presumedly to discuss the matter outside of the room.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) leaves the floor with Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), who voted for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) for Speaker on the first ballot. pic.twitter.com/N9RZ7z0uL2
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 3, 2025
Congress is now set to move on to vote a second time.
A huge ruckus broke out during the voting process when Democrat Rep. Stacey Plaskett, a delegate from the Virgin Islands, stood up voiced her outrage that she and other delegates from American territories were not called upon to vote.
Plaskett was reminded that delegates-elect are not qualified to vote.
WATCH the wild outburst below:
“I have a voice!”
Del. @StaceyPlaskett makes a parliamentary inquiry as to why delegates from U.S. territories and the District of Columbia are not allowed to vote for Speaker of the House. pic.twitter.com/BszRTeAzKG
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 3, 2025
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