Mike Johnson Elected House Speaker, Ending 22 Days of Paralysis

The new speaker aims to complete the appropriations process in the next 23 days, which will test his ability to maintain the fragile unity of House Republicans.

Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is sworn in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 25, 2023. Tom Brenner/AFP via Getty Images

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) has been elected speaker of the House of Representatives, clearing the way for the chamber to reopen after 22 days of enforced idleness since the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

He became the 56th speaker of the chamber on Oct. 25, winning 220 votes—including unanimous support from the Republican conference on the first ballot—a stunning moment that capped weeks of tumultuous infighting that saw three other Republican speaker nominees rise and fall.