House speaker vote tight, heading to second ballot; Jeffries nearly won.

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The battle for House Speaker is proving to be a nail-biter, with the outcome hanging in the balance. Mike Johnson, the current Speaker, needed 218 votes to secure his position but fell short, pushing the vote to a second ballot. This tight race highlights deep divisions within the Republican Party and the struggles Johnson faces to maintain leadership.

Breaking

House speaker vote too close to call.

Looking like it’s gonna go to a second ballot.

Johnson needed 218. Didn’t get there.

Crazy how close Jeffries came to grabbing it. pic.twitter.com/ZBgIhPiPO0

— QE Infinity (@StealthQE4) January 3, 2025

After ascending to the role in 2023 following Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster, Johnson has managed to secure President-elect Donald Trump’s support. However, his handling of the government spending fight just before Christmas angered some within the GOP’s right wing. As a result, Johnson could only afford to lose one Republican vote, leaving his future in jeopardy.

The House’s razor-thin Republican majority makes this vote even more precarious. With 219 Republicans and 215 Democrats, Johnson needed nearly every Republican vote to secure victory. Despite Trump’s endorsement and rallying efforts, Johnson’s fate is still uncertain. The tight race has also drawn attention to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who came close to grabbing the Speaker’s gavel, showing how competitive this vote truly is.

BREAKING.🚨

House Revolt: Murmurs break out on the House floor when Republican congressman Keith Self casts a vote for Byron Donalds to become Speaker. pic.twitter.com/eoPtYyZ4TO

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) January 3, 2025