Valley Republicans support House Speaker Mike Johnson in contentious vote

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The 119th Congress is present underway, with Central Valley Republican congressmen Vince Fong, David Valadao, and Tom McClintock playing a cardinal relation successful delivering the gavel to Mike Johnson successful his constrictive re-election arsenic Speaker of the House.

"I deliberation he's handled a precise hard concern precise well," McClintock said astir Johnson during an interrogation with Action News.

"One of the astir slender Congressional majorities successful American past ... and he's capable to determination america present successful an effectual direction. I deliberation helium conscionable proved that again today."

The past unfolded aft Johnson appeared poised to suffer a contentious vote.

Three Republicans archetypal voted against their person earlier 2 switched their ballot aft a telephone telephone with President-Elect Trump.

"Committee chairmanships, committee assignments, rules changes, these are each things that members are trying to sermon and speech astir successful the backmost rooms to beryllium capable to lend their votes to Johnson," Blake Zante astatine the Maddy Institute said.

Zante utilized to enactment for erstwhile Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and helium has seen Republican in-fighting before.

"Even though erstwhile Speaker Kevin McCarthy was elected, helium ended up being removed from his position," helium said.

"So, we surely can't clasp that retired arsenic a anticipation for Speaker Mike Johnson."

With Johnson elected, ceremonial swearings-in got underway Friday.

Merced's Adam Gray is among the caller members.

He bushed North Valley Republican John Duarte and flipped the spot for Democrats by conscionable 187 votes.

He picked up the keys to his bureau Friday morning.

"I'm anxious to get to enactment connected time one," Gray told Action News.

"I privation to find ways that we tin alteration the civilization successful Washington, D.C., from warring to working."

Gray and chap Democrats, similar Fresno's Jim Costa, are successful the minority. They present vow to enactment crossed the aisle arsenic lawmakers instrumentality cardinal votes, including immoderate connected President-Elect Trump's agenda.

"On the contented of the budget, connected the contented of the indebtedness ceiling, connected the contented of the reauthorization of the Farm Bill -- I deliberation determination volition beryllium opportunities to enactment together," Costa told Action News.

The Senate besides got underway Friday. California's Adam Schiff took the oath of office.

He and different Senators volition ballot connected President-Elect Trump's furniture nominees successful the coming weeks.

For quality updates, travel Gabe Ferris connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.