Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., told Newsmax on Friday that Republicans want "bold leadership" from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., or from a potential successor after the speaker vote Friday.
Norman told "Wake Up America" that "there is an optimism" surrounding President-elect Donald Trump's election and that House Republicans "want to see bold leadership" from the speaker.
"We want to see action taken," Norman said. "Someone who is going to put this country back on track."
"There has been a lot of talk" among legislators about the speaker vote, Norman said, adding that GOP lawmakers "met with Mike Johnson last night to see … what his plans are, how is he going to lead, how is he going to corral a small majority."
Norman noted that Republicans hold "the majority in the House of Representatives and rarely do you have the situation we have now, which is a good thing. You control the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. So we'll see."
Norman said later, "You got to have a Speaker of the House so I don't think you'll see a drawn out process," though he added Johnson may not win on the first ballot.
"What I've learned in politics ... a minute is a lifetime in the world of the political arena and [at] 12:00 today, we'll find out who ends up getting the support," Norman said.
Norman said that many Republicans take issue with the recent spending bill that Johnson backed.
"We've got a problem with the country being on fire with spending," Norman said.
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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