By Korrie Wenzel, Brainerd Dispatch
U.S. House members from the Dakotas and Minnesota stayed within party lines — and Republicans offered assurances and congratulations — on Wednesday as Mike Johnson was elected speaker of the House.
The vote was 220 for Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, and 209 for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat.
“Congratulations to my friend Mike Johnson on being elected speaker of the House,” U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-North Dakota, said in a statement sent to the media Wednesday afternoon. “I served with him on the Judiciary Committee through impeachment. He is a thoughtful conservative who has given his all to the conference and his district. I look forward to partnering with him to do the work of the American people.”
Johnson’s election marks the end of a drawn-out process that began Oct. 5 with the ouster of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California. Over the next three weeks, Republicans put forth four potential replacements; Jim Jordan of Ohio failed to receive the required 217 votes to earn the position, and Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Tom Emmer of Minnesota both withdrew.
Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, was chosen as the Republicans’ nominee Tuesday and won the job with Wednesday’s House vote.
On the social media site X — formerly known as Twitter — Johnson said it has been an “arduous few weeks” that served as a reminder that the House is both complicated and diverse.
“The urgency of this moment demands bold, decisive action to restore trust, advance our legislative priorities and demonstrate good governance,” he wrote.
He vowed that, as speaker, he will “ensure the House delivers results and inspires change for the American people. We will restore trust in this body. We will advance a comprehensive conservative policy agenda, combat the harmful policies of the Biden administration, and support our allies abroad. And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it.”
House members from the Dakotas and Minnesota voting for Johnson Wednesday were Armstrong; South Dakota Republican Dusty Johnson and Minnesota Republicans Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Brad Finstad and Pete Stauber.
Voting for Jeffries were Minnesota Democrats Angie Craig, Dean Phillips, Betty McCollum and Ilhan Omar.
Fischbach, who worked with Mike Johnson on the Judiciary Committee, called him “a proven conservative” who reflects the priorities of the American people.
"We have a lot to accomplish, and I trust that Mr. Johnson will lead Congress from a position of strength as we continue to fight for the values of American families and against the left's spending spree and extreme 'woke' priorities," she said.
Dusty Johnson used social media to reach out to Mike Johnson, offering congratulations “from one Johnson to another.”
He said in the same social media post that he looks forward to efforts to “fix the crisis at the southern border, address the $33 trillion of national debt and avoid a government shutdown.”
Emmer’s quick rise Tuesday as a nominee ended hours later with his withdrawal. It came after former President Donald Trump refused to offer his support and criticized the Minnesotan as a RINO, which stands for “Republican in name only.”
On Wednesday, Emmer said on social media that Johnson’s “strong convictions and commitment to conservatism will service this body and the American people well.”
Finstad called Mike Johnson a “commonsense conservative that our conference and country needs.” He also said, “I know him to be an honest man led by faith and a true dedication to our country.”
Stauber, also via social media, said “Mike Johnson is a good and principled man, and I believe he will make an excellent speaker.”
Stauber added that he hopes with a speaker in place, Congress can “secure the border, reduce inflation, fund the government in a fiscally responsible way and ensure our ally Israel has the resources necessary to eliminate the evil terrorists who wish to do them harm.”
Not all of the social media messages Wednesday were so complimentary.
“Mike Johnson spent his legal career fighting against same-sex marriage, adoption and marital benefits. Now, he’s brought that fight to Congress. Proud to vote against him on the 15th anniversary with my wife, Cheryl,” wrote Craig, the Democrat who represents Minnesota’s Second District, which includes the southern Twin Cities suburbs and areas south and west of there.
She concluded her social media post by directly speaking to Johnson, saying “enjoy it while it lasts — it won’t be long.”
