Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who led the trouble to oust former Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has joined the refrain of Republicans backing the brand new Home speaker nominee, Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Los Angeles.
After Republicans spent a lot of Tuesday behind closed doorways deciding on Johnson as the brand new GOP presidential nominee, Gaetz praised him as “a great, righteous man who will help Republicans.” The Florida Republican additionally advised a bunch of reporters that his colleague is the “very best candidate” because the GOP appears to lastly elect a president after voting McCarthy out of workplace three weeks in the past.
One problem that notably attracted caucus members to Johnson was his help for particular person appropriations payments, or spending payments that fund one division or initiative at a time quite than a spending package deal that might power members to help some stage of spending they’d not be snug with. . Gaetz stated he helps in any other case.
“He talks about single-subject spending payments being the organizing precept within the Home,” Gaetz stated of Johnson. “That is what I’ve been preventing for since January.” “That is why we vacated Kevin McCarthy, and regardless of the swamps, we did our greatest, we bought a great man who will help Republicans.”
Republicans are optimistic because the fourth candidate heads to the Home of Representatives
Consultant Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, expressed his help for Consultant Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, after Republicans nominated him for Speaker of the Home. (Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs)
Sources confirmed to Fox Information Digital that almost all of Republicans supported Johnson, who acquired 128 votes within the final spherical of votes, whereas Consultant Byron Donalds, Republican from Florida, acquired 29 votes. Different candidates, together with McCarthy, acquired votes.
Johnson stated he was “honored” to have the help of his colleagues and to show “servant management” in Congress.
“We’ll serve the individuals of this nation,” Johnson stated. “We’ll restore their belief on this Congress, and on this establishment of presidency.”
He added: “We’ll govern effectively. We’ll do what is correct by the individuals, and we consider the individuals will reward that subsequent yr.”
Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer gained a number of rounds of voting earlier within the day to turn into the get together’s nominee, however in the end withdrew his nomination within the face of intense opposition from inside the caucus, in addition to former President Trump.
Home Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., leaves the Home Committee on Methods and Means within the Home Workplace Constructing in Longworth after the Republican Convention voted to appoint Rep. Mike Johnson to be Speaker of the Home on October 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Anna Rose Leyden/Getty Photographs)
Talking to reporters on Tuesday, Gaetz stated there have been efforts inside the committee to attempt to stop Johnson from successful the nomination, however his supporters in the end succeeded in getting him to the end line.
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“Nicely, Kevin McCarthy did every little thing we may to thwart Mike Johnson with out asserting his candidacy, and he had like 40 individuals voting to attempt to create a steadiness in opposition to whoever bought 217 however we left him out,” Gaetz stated. “We have now votes for Mike Johnson throughout the board. From a few of these conservative members of our convention to a few of our freighters. There was enthusiastic help for this shift.”
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., leaves the Home Committee on Methods and Means within the Longworth Home Workplace Constructing after the Republican Convention voted to appoint Rep. Mike Johnson to be Speaker of the Home on October 24, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Rose Leyden/Getty Photographs)
Florida stated he “would not have something dangerous to say about these different candidates” however that the consensus course of — which “generally takes just a little longer” — in the end “requires unanimity.”
“It’s clear that this course of required consensus and resulted in the absolute best candidate,” Gaetz stated.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., walks via the Longworth Home Workplace Constructing after the Republican Convention voted to appoint Rep. Mike Johnson to be Speaker of the Home on October 24, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Rose Leyden/Getty Photographs)
Gaetz’s reward of Johnson echoes a few of his fellow Republicans, who hope the most recent nominee — fourth behind Reps. Steve Scalise, R-La., Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Emmer — will turn into the subsequent Home speaker. .
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Scalise issued an announcement on Tuesday calling Johnson “trustworthy, hardworking and principled.”
Rep. Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, walks via the Longworth Home Workplace Constructing after the Republican Convention voted to appoint Rep. Mike Johnson to be Speaker of the Home on October 24, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Rose Leyden/Getty Photographs)
“He is a superb man and shall be an incredible speaker. I look ahead to persevering with to work with my pricey pal to get this nation again on observe and ship outcomes for American households who deserve higher from Washington,” Scalise stated.
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“All of the completely different factions have come collectively, and we’re assured that members who have not been right here will acknowledge the unity that now we have (and) the significance of the mission,” Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., advised Fox Information Digital. Earlier than.”
Rep. Russell Frey, Republican of South Carolina, advised Fox Information that he felt “snug” with Johnson because the nominee.
He stated: “Mike Johnson was the agreed upon selection. He is a superb man and really trusted.” “And I consider the convention tonight is overwhelmingly prepared to face behind him on the ground tomorrow, and he’ll lead us via the subsequent yr and a half as we proceed our work as a Republican majority within the Home.”
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Republican of Florida, agreed, saying Republicans are “united.”
“Oh, yeah, positively,” Diaz-Balart stated when requested about Johnson’s help. “I feel we’re, we’re united. I feel we’re assured and united. You understand, democracy will get soiled generally.”
Home Speaker nominee Rep. Mike Johnson speaks alongside fellow members after his nomination for Speaker of the Home, contained in the Longworth Home Workplace Constructing within the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. (Tom Brenner for The Washington Put up by way of Getty Photographs)
A vote on Johnson’s presidency is anticipated to happen Wednesday afternoon, however Scalise and Emmer dropped their nominations earlier than getting a full vote.
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., has remained interim speaker, overseeing solely minimal Home protocols, since McCarthy’s exit.
Fox Information’ Kelly Farris, Elizabeth Elkind and Houston Kane contributed to this report.