(CNN) – Mike Johnson swiftly ascended to the speakership with unanimous support from his party. Now comes the hard part.
A largely inexperienced and untested leader, Johnson has to immediately confront a number of pressing legislative challenges and the deep scars within his bitterly divided party left by the 22 days of dysfunction without an elected speaker.
On top of essential legislative hurdles like how to keep the government open beyond November 17, Johnson will also need to kick start the stalled Republican agenda, which includes the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden that has faded from the spotlight amid Republican infighting over the speaker’s gavel.
“Everything has lost momentum,” GOP Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania told CNN when asked how the delay in uniting behind a speaker has impacted the House Republican agenda. “It’s sad. It shouldn’t be this way.”
“This has not been a good moment,” said Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, reflecting on the last three weeks. “So, to minimize that would be ludicrous because it’s something that’s never happened. It’s totally derailed our agenda. And I think it’s been very hurtful. We need now to look for ways to move forward.”
Once Johnson clinched the votes to become speaker Wednesday, the House could finally reopen, allowing members to get back to work and move legislation. Within hours of being elected, Johnson’s first act was to put a bipartisan resolution on the floor in support of Israel in the war against Hamas.
The resolution passed with overwhelming support, notching Johnson an easy and early victory. But much bigger tests await, including how to deal with a looming resolution to expel embattled GOP Rep. George Santos of New York, a censure resolution introduced by Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene against Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and…
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