Mike Johnson secures US House speakership after facing internal dissent

Three Republicans voted for someone else, but two later changed their votes while all Democrats backed Jeffries

After initially facing internal dissent, the Trump-endorsed Republican Mike Johnson secured the House speakership in the first round of voting on Friday.

Johnson could not afford to lose more than one Republican vote, and three Republican members of Congress initially voted for someone other than the incumbent speaker. All but Kentucky's Thomas Massie, who backed Minnesota's Tom Emmer, later changed their votes to support Johnson and secure him the 218 votes needed to hold the speakership for his first full term with the gavel.