If McCarthy Fails on 1st Ballot, for The First Time in History a Black Woman Will Preside Over House

Lawrence O’Donnell reported last night that if Kevin McCarthy fails to secure the House Speakership on the first ballot today, and every indication is that he absolutely will, what will result is a first in American History. For the first time a black woman, Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson of Louisiana, appointed by Nancy Pelosi, will take over the gavel and preside over the House until the Speakership is decided.

And that may take some time.

Below is O’Donnell’s commentary on Twitter.

👀🫢😝😎#CherylJohnson

That’s it
THAT’S the tweet👊🏾 https://t.co/ZL8PMFJuB4

— RipplesOfHope (@LulusUmi09) January 3, 2023

And, for those who don’t Tweet, on YouTube.

Unfortunately I could not find a news story on this development but here is what Wikipedia has on Ms. Johnson’s appointment as Clerk of the House:

“In late December 2018, Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi named Johnson as her choice for the next Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. On February 25, 2019 Johnson was sworn as the 36th Clerk and assumed the role on February 26, 2019. She was preceded by Karen L. Haas. The son of former Representative Bill Clay, Representative Lacy Clay, welcomed Johnson during her swearing in on the House floor.”

And some comments from Twitter:

If the speaker vote drags on "The House will find itself in a posture not seen in 100 years. This is all we know on January 3: Cheryl Johnson, the Democratic Clerk of the House, remains in charge."

That actually sounds better than any of the Republican alternates to McCarthy." https://t.co/dxj0HZC29O

— 🌊 GoHilary 🌊 (@GoHilary) January 2, 2023

I would be perfectly content to see McCarthy’s battle to last two years.

Very cool info about #CherylJohnson tomorrow.
Thank you Lawrence 👏

— ElizabethODE🆒 (@ElizabethODr) January 3, 2023

Yup

Thank you for this opening on the Clerk of the U.S. House of Reps., Cheryl Johnson. I wondered how this transition was going to happen!

— SCS (@VoteBlueHard) January 3, 2023

What SCS said, Lawrence.

👀🫢😝😎#CherylJohnson

That’s it
THAT’S the tweet👊🏾 https://t.co/ZL8PMFJuB4

— RipplesOfHope (@LulusUmi09) January 3, 2023

👍👍👍

Cheryl Johnson, is in charge of the House until a speaker is elected. I nominate her for Speaker. pic.twitter.com/CMRqzhUGlT

— Thee MVP is so important and so capable (@SpeakerMentors) January 3, 2023

Works for me.

Love that House will be ruled by Ms. Cheryl Johnson, a black woman, until Republicans get their clown chaos together. She will make all rulings, solve all questions. Yay! May be prejudicial but I trust intelligent competent black woman over just about anyone else.

— jacqueline stauffer (@jstauf4316) January 3, 2023

Not at all, Jackie, just common sense.

Meet The Honorable Cheryl Johnson.
She's Clerk of the US House of Representatives, and she'll be in charge until the Republicans get their heads outa their asses – could be a long tenure. pic.twitter.com/FLN7slhkhK

— e'Ville Mike 🇺🇦 (@eVilleMike) January 3, 2023

Could be forever.

It has taken this nation much too long to have a competent black woman in charge of the People’s House, but nevertheless let me add my congratulations to Cheryl Johnson for her achievement.

Let us hope it takes some time for the Rethuglicans to come to consensus, and…

Long may she reign.