Rep. Mike Johnson Picked as New GOP Speaker-Designate: ‘We’re Going to Serve the People’

House Republicans picked Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) as their fourth speaker nominee Tuesday evening, as House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) dropped out of the race just hours after his designation earlier in the day. Mr. Johnson has the necessary 217 votes to become speaker, according to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas). “Democracy is messy sometimes, but it is our system,” Mr. Johnson said after the Conference vote. “This Conference that you see, this House Republican majority is united.” He also announced that the House would hold a floor vote on Wednesday to “make this official.”