Mike Johnson Will Continue to Lead the House GOP After Republicans Vote to Keep Him in Power

House Republicans held their biennial leadership elections on Wednesday, Nov. 13, voting to reelect Johnson as their conference leader and putting him on track to seek the speakership again in January

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson outside a House Republican Conference meeting on Oct. 24, 2023

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson outside a House Republican Conference meeting on Oct. 24, 2023

House Speaker Mike Johnson has been reelected as the leader of the House Republican Conference.

Johnson earned the support of his party on Wednesday, Nov. 13, to carry on in his current role at the helm of the House GOP, which includes setting priorities for the conference and acting as a spokesperson for its members.

Though Johnson was reelected as the Republican leader, it's not yet certain whether he will retain his position as speaker of the entire House. Many House races have not been called yet in the 2024 elections and the House majority for the upcoming Congress has not been formally decided, though Republicans are expected to hold a narrow majority over Democrats.

If Republicans do win the majority in the House, they will nominate Johnson as their speaker candidate during the speakership election in January, where members of all parties get to cast a vote.

Related: John Thune Elected to Replace Mitch McConnell as the Republican Senate Leader, Fending Off MAGA Challenger

Andrew Harnik/Getty House Speaker Mike Johnson applauds during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on Sept. 18, 2024

Andrew Harnik/Getty

House Speaker Mike Johnson applauds during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on Sept. 18, 2024

Johnson — who first gained prominence for leading one of the efforts to reject the results of the last presidential election — represents the fourth district of Louisiana, and recently won his fifth two-year term in the House.

Related: Donald Trump Says He Has a 'Little Secret' with the House Speaker That's Having a 'Big Impact' on Election

On Oct. 25, 2023, Johnson was elected unanimously by his Republican counterparts to become their nominee for speaker of the House, after a vacancy opened when Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted. Before leaping to the top of the ranks, he had served as vice chairman of the House GOP and deputy whip.

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In the 2024 elections, Republicans gained control of the Senate, picking up four seats in total. In the new Congress, Republicans will have 53 seats to Democrats' 47.

On Nov. 13, Senate Republicans elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune to succeed longtime GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell in January.