Washington: Mike Johnson on Friday won re-election in the first round of voting for the U.S. House speaker in a slim Republican majority, after swaying two out of the three members of his party who had joined Democrats to block his bid.
The final vote tally was 218 to 216, with all 215 Democrats voting for minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky voting for another candidate — GOP Whip Tom Emmer.
Two other House Republicans — Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas — had voted for other candidates for speaker, and changed votes after last minute negotiation with Johnson.
