Mike Johnson to step down as US House speaker after Democratic win in Congress
A spokesman confirmed the decision a day after Democrats won both chambers; Republicans will choose a new leader next Tuesday (10).
Translated from the Portuguese original by the Panorama newsroom. Read in Portuguese
Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.
The speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, will step down as head of the chamber after his party's defeat in the midterm elections, g1 reported, citing the AFP news agency. Asked whether the information was accurate, Johnson's spokesman replied with a single word: "Correct."
A representative from Louisiana, Johnson informed his staff of the decision on Wednesday morning (4), one day after Democrats took control of both the House and the Senate. President Donald Trump praised his ally and said he had done a fantastic job.
At 54, Johnson has led the House since October 2023. He reached the post as a consensus choice among Republicans after weeks of internal disputes that followed the ouster of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy. The speaker is third in the line of presidential succession, after the president and Vice President JD Vance.
His departure opens the way for a contest for the Republican leadership in the chamber between Steve Scalise, the current majority leader and also a Louisiana representative, and Jim Jordan of Ohio, chairman of the Judiciary Committee and one of the party's most conservative lawmakers, an ally of Trump.
Trump said he does not intend to interfere in the choice. According to g1, the Republicans' internal vote is scheduled for next Tuesday (10).