Republicans pick Mike Johnson as latest House Speaker nominee

Republicans have chosen Congressman Mike Jones as their latest nominee for the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Jones is now the fourth nominee put forward after three others failed to get enough support from fellow Republicans – and the second nominee of the day. 

He was selected after three rounds of voting late on Tuesday. 

The House has been without a Speaker since Kevin McCarthy was ousted on 3 October. The House has been unable to pass bills since. 

Republicans have a narrow majority over Democrats in the lower chamber of Congress, so their nominee can only afford to lose a handful of votes from their own side to win. 

It’s not clear whether Johnson will have the 217 votes to win the gavel. 

His nomination is expected to receive a full vote in the House as soon as Wednesday afternoon. If he fails, Republicans are back to square one and the House will continue to have no Speaker.