Johnson Promises To Be ‘Trump’s Quarterback’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Speaker Mike Johnson is beginning the hard fight to retain his gavel. The first test will come Wednesday during internal House Republican leadership elections that will establish the new power centers for a Washington dominated by President-elect Donald Trump. While Johnson has no serious challenger for the speakership, he faces dissent within his ranks, particularly from hard-right conservatives. Johnson needs just a simple majority in Wednesday’s closed-door voting to win the GOP nomination to become speaker. But he will need majority support of the full House, 218 votes, to actually take hold of the gavel on Jan. 3 when the new Congress convenes.