Before the new Congress can do anything — including certifying Donald J. Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election — the House will need to elect its speaker. A vote is scheduled for Friday.
The speaker’s election happens even before newly elected representatives are sworn in, and must be resolved before anything else can be addressed.
Around noon, lawmakers congregated on the House floor, and leaders from each party nominated their candidates. Republicans are expected to nominate Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana for another term, and Democrats will put forward their leader, Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
The House clerk then proceeds to an alphabetical roll-call vote in which each lawmaker replies with a name. That could be Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jeffries or — if lawmakers wish to lodge a protest vote — any name of their choosing, including someone who is not a member of Congress.
The threshold for election is a majority of those present and voting, or 218 if the full complement of 435 members of the House participates. But vacancies and absences could complicate the math.
With the resignation of former Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, Republicans will hold a total of 219 seats, while Democrats hold 215. That means Mr. Johnson can afford to lose only one Republican vote if all members are present and voting.
Mr. Johnson could still win the speakership even if he does not have the support of a majority. He could persuade lawmakers who oppose him to vote “present” rather than naming another person, or to simply “take a walk” and miss the vote entirely.
That is not an uncommon occurrence. Two years ago, Kevin McCarthy won the gavel on the 15th ballot with only 216 votes. John Boehner was elected as speaker with 216 votes in 2015, as was Nancy Pelosi in 2021.
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