The day began with the formulaic roll call of every member of the House, which had become familiar to a national audience over the 19 different ballots to elect a Republican Speaker in 2023. (First, the 15 needed to elect Kevin McCarthy and then the four needed to replace him after his ouster.

When the 119th Congress is sworn in Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson will fight for his political life — again. While the Louisiana Republican has the support of President-elect Donald Trump, it will be House Republicans who will decide whether to reelect him to his post as Speaker of the House.

Johnson also blasted California's Democratic leadership, saying, "It appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty."