Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., takes the oath to be the new House speaker l Alex Brandon/AP
Published on October 31, 2023 at 4:07 pm
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Q. A Jacksonville Today reader, Pam L., wanted to know which Northeast Florida representatives voted to put U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson in power.
“Would you please let your readers know whether or not Rep. John Rutherford voted for the new speaker, Rep. Mike Johnson?”
A. All four representatives from Northeast Florida voted for Johnson for speaker.
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The First Coast area is represented in the House by Reps. Aaron Bean of Fernandina Beach, Kat Cammack of Gainesville, John Rutherford of Jacksonville and Michael Waltz of St. Augustine Beach. All four are Republicans, and all four voted in favor of Johnson, a fellow Republican from Louisiana.
Rutherford was the only representative to split with his Northeast Florida colleagues during earlier votes before Johnson was ultimately elected. Rutherford voted for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise during votes Oct. 17, 18 and 20. Bean, Cammack and Waltz voted for Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio during those votes.
Scalise was the Republican Party’s original speaker designee after Rep. Kevin Mccarthy was removed as House Speaker on Oct. 3. Rutherford said in a statement Oct. 20 that since Jordan withheld his support for Scalise, despite Scalise’s winning a majority of votes within the Republican Conference, he could not support Jordan. Rutherford said Jordan’s actions were not indicative of a leader.
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Once Johnson was elected House Speaker, Rutherford said in a statement that Johnson is a “servant leader with a proven conservative record who has earned the trust and support of the entire GOP conference.”
All four Northeast Florida Representatives voted not to remove McCarthy as House Speaker during the vote Oct. 3.
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