Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer went along with her party Wednesday to finally elect a new speaker of the House of Representatives, ending weeks of political chaos in Washington, D.C.
Chavez-DeRemer, the first-term representative from Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, said in a written statement that she supported Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson as what she called the “consensus candidate” to lead the House.
“The American people, and our allies around the world, are relying on us to come together and demonstrate that we’re able to govern responsibly,” Chavez-DeRemer said, following the unanimous vote among Republicans that ended weeks of turmoil triggered by then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster. “I’m hopeful that Speaker Johnson will work effectively with all sides of the Conference to advance commonsense, pragmatic legislation that is good for our state and our nation,” she added.
FILE - Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., watches as Republicans try to elect Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a top Donald Trump ally, to be the new House speaker, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.
Alex Brandon / AP
While Johnson lacks the pugnacious demeanor of other failed Republican candidates for speaker, such as Ohio’s Jim Jordan, he is just as intertwined with former President Donald Trump’s failed effort to overturn the 2020 election — a fact that led Oregon Democrats to immediately denounce his speakership.
“Today the House GOP caved to MAGA pressure and elected a speaker who sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election, opposes LGBTQI+ rights, would criminalize abortion, denies climate change, and worked to cut critical programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Beaverton, said on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
Rep. Andrea Salinas, the first-term Democratic congresswoman representing the state’s new 6th District, also referred to Johnson as an “extremist who voted to overturn the 2020 election.” However, she said she was “hopeful” that Johnson would try to work with Democrats.
Chavez-DeRemer’s vote was among the most closely watched in the House chamber, as she is one of more than a dozen Republicans representing districts that were won by President Biden in 2020.
She had previously voted against Jordan, a close Trump ally, and opposed McCarthy’s removal as speaker. A spokesman for Chavez-DeRemer said Wednesday she was not available for an interview to discuss her decision.
Every Republican in the U.S. House voted for Johnson, including Oregon’s other Republican in Congress, Rep. Cliff Bentz. Unlike Chavez-DeRemer, Bentz also voted for Jordan.
Chavez-DeRemer said she didn’t know Johnson well but made it clear to him that Oregon’s priorities are important.
Johnson is a constitutional lawyer who was a key architect in the failed effort to overturn the 2020 election through legal means. He’s also opposed aid to Ukraine.
Oregon’s 5th District will be among the most-watched U.S. House races next year. Chavez-DeRemer will be seeking reelection against a crowded field of Democrats, who are sure to attempt to tie her with far-right members of her party. One Democratic candidate, state Rep. Janelle Bynum, sent out a fundraising pitch based on the speaker vote Wednesday shortly after the vote. She described Johnson as a “MAGA extremist” and noted that he supported a national abortion ban, argued for same-sex marriage bans and “tried to overturn the 2020 election.”