Democrats have mixed reaction to Johnson’s speaker victory: ‘Hell has frozen over’

Democratic lawmakers had mixed reactions to Republican Rep. Mike Johnson being re-elected as speaker of the House for the 119th Congress.

Lawmakers gathered on Capitol Hill on Friday to vote for a speaker before the new Congress could be commenced. Johnson won the speaker race during the first round of voting, but all GOP lawmakers were not originally in support of his candidacy. 

During the first round, three Republicans voted for candidates other than Johnson. However, after a short meeting in the GOP cloakroom with Johnson, Republican holdouts Reps. Ralph Norman and Keith Self changed their vote for the first round – securing the speakership for Johnson.

When it remained up in the air whether the Republican holdouts would change their votes, Democrats began reacting on social media. “The GOP Civil War is in full swing. And it’s only Day 1,” House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries wrote in a post on X shortly before two of the GOP holdouts changed their votes.

MIKE JOHNSON RE-ELECT HOUSE SPEAKER AS GOP MUTINY THREAT DISSOLVES

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., is congratulated by Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., left, in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol after Johnson won the speakership for the 119th Congress on Friday, January 3, 2025.  (Tom Williams)

“Welp, it only took a few minutes for the GOP to run this train right off its tracks — not voting for their own Speaker of the House,” Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., said in a post on social media. “Was hoping we could leave the dysfunction in 2024 and work for the American people! But we’re headed to a round two of Speaker votes.”

But the sentiment changed after Johnson won the gavel in just one round. One Democrat credited Johnson for securing the speakership in a single vote after it took Republican lawmakers four days to elect a speaker in January 2023.

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“To his credit Mike Johnson learned from the 15 round debacle of 2 years ago. Instead of trying to jam his conference with a quick second round he held the vote open while some backroom arm twisting & hand wringing took place. The result: 2 changed vote, enough to win the gavel,” Rep. Hank Johnson, R-Ga., said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks to the media during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol. (Kevin Dietsch)

“This fight is over, but keep your popcorn close,” the Democrat added.

“Hell has frozen over (literally – it’s snowing in DC)! With just one vote, we have a Speaker – for now!” Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Mo., said on X.

Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky said that “now that we have a Speaker, let’s get to work.”

After Johnson won the speakership vote, other Democrats congratulated him.

“Congratulations to Mike Johnson on earning re-election as Speaker of the House,” Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., posted on social media. “There are several vetted, bipartisan bills in the docket that he could immediately bring to the floor to help Americans: afford housing, pay for Rx drugs, secure the border.”

Rep. Jasmine Crockett said that “we have a Speaker – for now!” (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)

Democratic lawmakers voted unanimously for Rep-elect Hakeem Jeffries of New York, touted by Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., after the vote.

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“215 @HouseDemocrats stand united behind our Leader @RepJeffries. First round. Every round,” Clark said in a post on X.