To paraphrase an old joke: How do you keep a Congress in suspense? I'll vote later ...

Withholding their votes til the end for the ~drama~ https://t.co/cI62Dd4tGY

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) January 3, 2025

Most of the holdouts returned to the dais at the end of the first round of the House Speaker election to cast their ballots for Mike Johnson. Unfortunately, three Republicans held out, and so now the House will do what it did twice last year ... hold multiple ballots while (theoretically) risking control of the lower chamber. The first vote tied 215-215 with Hakeem Jeffries, with 217 needed to win the election [see update].

Johnson certainly tried to address member concerns leading into the first round of voting. Donald Trump wished him luck as the day started, and Johnson insisted that he would deal straightforwardly with his conference -- but not cut side deals as Kevin McCarthy did, only to get back-stabbed later:

“I do believe that Mike Johnson coming out and committing to Chip Roy being chairman of the Rules Committee would secure the vote on the first round with no significant battle,” Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) told former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on “The Matt Gaetz Show.”

Roy, Massie and Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) got seats on the Rules Committee as part of a deal cut with former Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he sought the speaker’s gavel. But the trio have emerged as a frequent roadblock for major GOP policy bills because they have enough combined sway on the panel to prevent any bill they all oppose from advancing unless Democrats step in.

Johnson allies are adamant that he won’t cut a deal to make Roy chair of the panel in order to secure his speakership, and centrists have also privately warned that he should generally avoid cutting the types of deals McCarthy did. Many of those deals ultimately paved the way for his ouster just months later.

That's a lesson Johnson has not forgotten. Apart from that, however, Johnson pledged a return to regular order and robust committee power if elected as Speaker:

As Speaker, I commit to: 

1. Create a working group comprised of independent experts – not corrupted by lobbyists and special interests – to work with DOGE and our committees on implementing recommended government and spending reforms to protect the American taxpayer. 

2. Task that working group with reviewing existing audits of federal agencies and entities created by Congress – and issuing a report to my office for public release. 

3. Request House committees undertake aggressive authorizations and appropriations reviews, including providing additional resources where needed, to expose irresponsible or illegal practices and hold agencies/individuals accountable that have weaponized government against the American people.   

That appeared to address the publicly declared concerns of the House Republican dissenters, except for Thomas Massie, who voted for Tom Emmer instead. Keith Self voted for Byron Donalds; Ralph Norman voted for Jim Jordan. Both Emmer and Donalds have endorsed Johnson for this vote, while Jordan has been a bit more opaque on the question. Chip Roy and a few others held off on casting a vote to the end, apparently to wait and see how the vote would unfold, potentially leaving open the possibility that Hakeem Jeffries could end up as Speaker. (Republicans would file a Motion to Vacate immediately if that happened, which would create even more chaos.)

So now the House has begun a new round of balloting as the nation watches with profound ennui at the pointless fight. As we have written before, the GOP now has the White House to lead the agenda and control of the Senate, which makes the House Speaker position less singular in protecting Republican interests and priorities. There is nothing to be gained except notoriety from this tiresome stunt, which appears to be the only value that concern the House Republican holdouts. 

We'll update as developments warrant, I suppose. Let's see if Democrats get tired of the nonsense and start voting "present" to reduce the number for a majority. 

Update: I didn't get the final number correct. Johnson actually led but still needed 218 rather than 217:

House appears to have failed to elect a Speaker on the first ballot. Unofficial tally: 216 for Johnson. 215 for Jeffries. 1 for Emmer. 1 for Jordan. 1 for Donalds. Needed 218 out of 434 casting ballots.

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 3, 2025

Either way, it's a self-pwn by the House GOP. 

Update: This wasn't the only stupid stunt taking place during the vote:

US Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D) causes a scene on the House floor after she is told delegates can't vote for Speaker: "This body and this nation has a territories and a colonies problem. What was supposed to be temporary has now effectively become permanent." pic.twitter.com/1aRU1xPGcq

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 3, 2025

Perhaps someone failed to read the rules beforehand? 

Update, 2:30 pm ET: Technically, the first round is still open. They have not announced the results from the chair yet, and members can still change their votes. Norman and Self are meeting with Johnson and others now in the cloak room off the floor. Stand by. 

Update: And ... here we go? Again?

BREAKING -- NORMAN and SELF appear to be changing their votes right now

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2025

Update: And that's exactly what happened:

BREAKING NEWS -- @SpeakerJohnson WINS THE SPEAKERSHIP ON THE FIRST BALLOT

RALPH NORMAN AND KEITH SELF switch their votes after a long break in the proceedings.

A very, very impressive win for JOHNSON.

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2025

Er ... maybe. Call it a First Ballot-ish Win for Johnson ... and another, if short-lived, faceplant for the midwit caucus.