▲ Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks after he was chosen as the Republicans latest nominee for House speaker at a Republican caucus meeting in Washington on Oct. 24, 2023 in this photo released by Reuters. (Yonhap)

(3rd LD) US-House speaker election

(3rd LD) U.S. House picks new speaker, ends weeks of leadership vacuum

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 7-8)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. House of Representatives elected its new speaker Wednesday, ending three weeks of leadership vacuum created by the unprecedented ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), an ally of former President Donald Trump, was elected in a 220-209 vote following intense internal wrangling over who should grab the gavel. He was the Republican Party's fourth nominee for the top post since McCarthy was unseated on Oct. 3.

The new speaker is tasked with a host of legislative tasks, including handling President Joe Biden's request for support to Israel and Ukraine as well as federal spending bills whose passage is needed to prevent a government shutdown next month.

"To my colleagues, I want to thank you all for the trust that you have instilled in me to lead us in this historic and unprecedented moment that we are in," he said. "The challenge before us is great, but the time for action is now and I will not let you down."

To Americans, he highlighted his readiness to "get to work again."

"We hear you. We know the challenges you're facing. We know that there's a lot going on in our country, domestically and abroad," he said. "We're ready to get to work again to solve those problems and we will. Our mission here is to serve you well and to restore the people's faith in this House."

Later, Trump congratulated Johnson.

"We were very happy to have known him for a long time. He's a tremendous leader," he told reporters. "He will be a great Speaker. I think you can be very proud."

Legislative paralysis since McCarthy's ouster has been a major source of concern as the Biden administration has been in need of congressional cooperation over a range of security and foreign policy issues, including the escalating war between Israel and the Hamas militant group and Russia's protracted war in Ukraine.

Johnson, a social conservative, has been against same-sex marriage and abortion.

He was first elected to the House in December 2016. Prior to the election, he had served in the Louisiana Legislature since 2015. He is the first Speaker of the House from Louisiana.

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