Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson failed to be re-elected to the position during the first voting round.
According to Reuters, Johnson needed to secure 218 votes for confirmation, but he only received 216.
At least three Republicans voted against his candidacy, which, as the publication notes, could deprive the current Speaker of the necessary majority to retain the position.
CNN reports that Johnson still has a chance for re-election. The House of Representatives has now moved on to a second round of voting, and the candidate is in discussions with the Republicans who opposed him.
Later, two Republicans who initially supported another candidate changed their minds and backed Johnson.
Who is Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on October 25, 2023. He became the third youngest Speaker in the last century and the Speaker with the least experience in Congress in the past 140 years, according to ABC News.
The advocacy group "Republicans for Ukraine" rated his support for Kyiv at the lowest level—F—calling Johnson's statements anti-Ukrainian. Previously, he, along with House Republicans, blocked the passage of a bill concerning military aid to Ukraine, which left Kyiv without U.S. support for several months.
However, in October, Johnson stated that the U.S. should continue supporting Ukraine. He also expressed the view that Donald Trump is capable of ending the war.