Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana won election on Wednesday as the 56th speaker of the House of Representatives, putting an end to three weeks of chaos that left the chamber without a leader and put Republican divisions on display.
Republicans elevated Mr. Johnson, 51, a little-known and deeply conservative lawmaker, after a tumultuous fight.
It began after the hard right ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and raged on as the divided House G.O.P.
Worn down by a brutal stretch of infighting that unleashed a barrage of recriminations and violent threats against lawmakers, both the hard-right flank of the party and mainstream Republicans united to elect Mr. Johnson in a 220-to-209 vote.
Republicans jumped to their feet and applauded after Representative Patrick T. McHenry of North Carolina, the interim speaker, declared that Mr. Johnson was the “duly elected speaker of the House of Representatives.”
Persons:
Mike Johnson, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Patrick T, McHenry, ”
Organizations:
Representatives
Locations:
Louisiana, McHenry of North Carolina