By the narrowest of margins, House Speaker Mike Johnson was re-elected on Friday.
The vote was 218-215.
Going into the election, Johnson faced an uphill task to remain speaker.
As noted by CNN, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky had said going into the vote that he would not support Johnson, and he did not.
With Johnson able to lose only one GOP defector if all House members voted, it was imperative for him to corral every other Republican vote in the House, where the Republicans have a majority.
Because the seat held by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida remains empty, there were 434 members present, with 219 Republicans and 215 Democrats. That meant Johnson needed 218 votes.
Two other GOP representatives — Keith Self of Texas and Ralph Norman of South Carolina — originally voted for other candidates, but after a deliberations, they changed their votes.
Republican Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas said Republicans needed to elect Johnson and move on to accomplish what members were elected to do.
“There will be many an opportunity over the course of the next several months as we prosecute an agenda to stumble, shoot ourselves in the foot. We