Louisiana Rep.Mike Johnsonwon the House speaker election on Wednesday afternoon in a 220-209vote on party lines, becoming second in line to the presidency and putting an end to an unprecedented three weeks of infighting among House Republicans that effectively froze Congress.

The House speaker election between Republican Mike Johnson and Democrat Hakeem Jeffries on Oct. 25, 2023.Alex Brandon/AP Photo

Republican stand as Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., nominates Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., to be the new House speaker, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.

Alex Brandon/AP Photo

The House cannot conduct business without a speaker installed, creating a dire situation due to a looming government shutdown on Nov. 17 and the urgent need to decide on funding packages for Israel and Ukraine.

House Speaker-Designate Mike Johnson speaks with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy before the Oct. 25, 2023, floor vote.TOM BRENNER/AFP via Getty

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) talks with Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on the House floor before the fourth vote to elect a new House Speaker at the Capitol in Washington, DC on October 25, 2023.

TOM BRENNER/AFP via Getty

After McCarthy’s ouster, Republicans initially nominated Louisiana Rep.Steve Scaliseto backfill his position, but the No. 2 House Republican quickly learned he would not have enough votes to win the formal speaker election on the House floor, and hewithdrew himself from considerationfor the role the following day.

Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty

House Speaker nominee Rep. Mike Johnson

Last week, Ohio Rep.Jim Jordanwas selected as the new Republican House speaker nominee. But after three rounds of voting in the House speaker election, Jordan was also unable to secure the number of votes needed to win. By Friday, his dreams of the speakership were dashed when members of his own partyvoted to drop him as the party’s House speaker nominee.

Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan was the Republican Party’s second choice to replace Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, though he was forced off the ballot after it became clear he could not win.Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Jim Jordan

Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Minnesota Rep.Tom Emmer— who is currently House majority whip — was then chosen as the party’s third-choice nominee on Tuesday, but he, too,dropped outwithin only a few hours when it became clear that he would not have the necessary 217 votes to become the House speaker in a floor vote.

That brought the House Republican Conference to nominate Johnson on Tuesday evening, hours after Emmer withdrew his name.

Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, who was appointed as the GOP House speaker nominee after Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer withdrew from the race.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

Mike Johnson republican louisiana speaker candidate washington 10 24 23

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

Who Is Mike Johnson?

Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, 51, served as a deputy whip for the House GOP and sits on the House Judiciary Committee. He is in his fourth congressional term and, prior to running for speaker, he maintained a relatively low national profile.

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source: people.com