After three weeks of having no speaker, the U.S. House of Representatives elected Mike Johnson, with all 220 Republicans voting in favor of the Louisiana Congressman.
Johnson was the party’s fourth nominee for speaker in three weeks. Speaking with KMAN Thursday, Kansas 1st District Congressman Tracey Mann said he believes Johnson can be a unifying voice for the party.
Mann voted for all four candidates who received nominations. Asked whether that was to speed the process along, Mann responded that he and others in the GOP jumped aboard based on his track record on policy.
With the House now back in business, Mann says work will continue to fund the government, send aid to Israel and work to secure the southern U.S. border with Mexico. He believes President Biden’s attempt to tie a package that also sends aid to Ukraine isn’t likely to get through the GOP-controlled House.
Some have been critical of Johnson’s far-right leanings as an outspoken opponent of LGBTQ initiatives and being among the 120 House Representatives who objected to certifying the 2020 presidential elections. As for what that means for voting integrity heading into another contentious presidential election, Mann says there’s likely more work to be done.
After electing Johnson, the House declared solidarity with Israel on a 412 to 10 vote.
