Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) attempt to carry over his leadership to the 119th Congress struggled to pass its first vote Friday thanks to three Tea Party Republicans — in a move with strikingly similar parallels to Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-CA) battle for the position in 2023.
Johnson's critics took to social media to mock his difficulties in the first vote as the speaker stormed off the House floor into the cloakroom.
The vote had come in with Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries receiving215 votes, Johnson getting 215 votes, and three renegade Republicans voting for someone other than either of the two leading candidates.
But during a long break, Johnson managed to convince Reps. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Keith Self (R-TX) to change their minds — returning him the gavel.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) holds the record for the most votes needed to attain the speakership — it took him 17 rounds to finally get over the finish line back in 2023.
Foes immediately mocked Johnson for being in a similar position as McCarthy previously.
"Mike Johnson knows he’s cooked," said media monitoring X account PatriotTakes, including a screen capture of a disappointed-looking Johnson from C-SPAN before the two renegade Republicans were persuaded to back him.
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Podcaster and political writer Josh Holland highlighted a post by former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who had written earlier on X that Johnson would be elected the Speaker "on the first vote. People might like or dislike that. I'm just reporting the news."
Freelancer Aaron Rupar, known for posting political clips on social media, shared a cartoon duck smoking cannabis saying, "Kevin McCarthy watching Johnson fall short of the votes."
"Well, folks… Johnson doesn’t have the votes… At least on this first round… THE PARTY of CHAOS is at it again! Welcome to the 119th Congress!" wrote Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).
Millennial Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) agreed, posting, "Welp, Johnson loses the first ballot. Here we go again. People want Congress to work and House Republicans can’t govern!
Former news producer Dan Przygoda recalled a story about Johnson and his son who have apps on their phone that alert the other if they're watching adult-themed videos.
"I wonder if that creepy app on Mike Johnson’s son’s phone is going off right now, because his daddy is getting f---ed," Przygoda posted on X.
"But they said they have a mandate," posted lawyer and journalist Kimberly Atkins Stohr on Blue Sky. She included a GIF from the film "Princess Bride," in which Inigo Montoya says, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."