New Republican Congress to begin laying the groundwork for Trump's return
Congress starts a new session Friday with Republicans taking the majority in the House and Senate, electing a speaker and preparing for a second Trump administration.
WASHINGTON — Republicans on Friday will begin laying the groundwork for a second Trump administration as they officially take over the majority in both chambers of Congress and try to elect a speaker of the House before they tackle other critical business.
Friday is the opening day of the new 119th Congress, a celebratory moment when the Capitol is packed with proud family members and other well-wishers eager to see their loved ones take the oath of office.
Before that ceremony happens on the House floor, however, members-elect must first choose a speaker — and, once again, that may not be easy. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., won his party’s nomination for the job in November and has been endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, but he still faces an uphill climb to win the gavel for a full two-year term.
Because of the GOP’s minuscule 219-215-seat majority, just two Republican defections could derail Johnson’s bid to remain speaker. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has already vowed to oppose Johnson, and a handful of others, including Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., have said they are undecided.
“You can pull all my fingernails out. You can shove bamboo up in them. You can start cutting off my fingers. I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow," Massie said in an interview with former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Thursday. "And you can take that to the bank”
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