WASHINGTON – House Republicans approved the bill on Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson Louisiana will return as leader next year as GOP prepares to govern together President-elect Donald Trump and with full control One of Washington’s main levers of power.

It’s no surprise that Johnson won. He ran unopposed and there were no objections before the unanimous vote.

It’s also not the last word on the subject. Johnson still needs to win a majority of votes from the 435-member chamber during a public vote in early January, making him second in line for president after J.D. Vance, who was also elected as vice president.

Trump was a long-time supporter of Johnson and invited him to speak 2024 campaign rallies And host it At Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Earlier Wednesday, the president-elect reiterated his view supporting the speaker’s future before House Republicans while visiting Capitol Hill.

“President Trump is very clear. He supports Mike Johnson. “We’re going to vote for Mike Johnson,” said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas. “If Donald Trump says jump three feet high and scratch your head, we’ll all jump three feet high and scratch our heads.” .”

Republicans will enter 2025 with a majority despite multiple House races yet to be called, so it’s unclear how large their margin will be when the 119th Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2025.

52-year-old Johnson first elected as House speaker in 2023 after lawmakers ousted then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy from position. Johnson promised at the time to restore Americans’ confidence in the House of Representatives, which had been corrupted by internal chaos.

The speaker’s biggest challenge going forward will likely come from his right flank and from ultraconservative lawmakers who have at times criticized his willingness to work with Democrats to avert a government shutdown. Republican lawmakers emerging from a conference call Wednesday morning gave mixed support to Johnson. For some, Trump’s support was a critical part of their vote.

Other Republicans have expressed concerns about Johnson’s record. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., criticized Johnson for his foreign policy views and said the speaker was “fundamentally a neocon,” the exact opposite of Trump.

Johnson, a constitutional lawyer, was elected in 2016 to represent a district in northwestern Louisiana. He is a devout Southern Baptist who has built a steady relationship with Trump over the past year.

This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Trump endorses Mike Johnson for House speaker, GOP backs pick