House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) intends to remain at the helm of the lower chamber and asked his colleagues Wednesday to help him keep his gavel. 

​​”The American people have shown by their votes that they are ready to turn from the misery of the past four years and embark on a brighter, bolder path that is marked not by big government, bureaucratic control, poverty, inflation and wokeness—but by liberty, security, strength, prosperity and opportunity,” the Louisiana Republican wrote in a letter to lawmakers. 

“I’m ready to take the field with all of you, and I am humbly asking for your support to continue leading this Conference as your Speaker,” Johnson continued. “It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve with you thus far, and I look forward to playing the biggest offense of our lives.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) asked his colleagues Wednesday to help him keep his gavel and re-elect him to speakership post. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“We have a country to save — and we will.” 

House leadership elections are scheduled to take place on Nov. 13. 

Republicans seem poised to keep their House majority in the wake of Tuesday’s election. 

As of 11 p.m. Wednesday, the GOP was projected to win at least 206 House seats, according to the Associated Press, with Democrats expected to win at least 190.

The forecasting website Decision Desk HQ gave Republicans a 89.8% chance of winning the majority and projected that the GOP would win 222 seats, which would give the party a slim, 4-seat majority next year. 

If the projected race wins pan out, it would give Republicans control of the House, Senate and the White House next year.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., speaks at a campaign rally, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. The GOP was projected to win at least 206 House seats as of 11 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the AP. AP

“The American people have spoken and voted overwhelmingly to send President Donald J. Trump and Senator JD Vance to the White House, and return control of the Senate to the GOP,” Johnson wrote.  “As we have planned and expected, the latest data indicates that we will also hold — and likely grow — our Republican majority in the House, even though we faced a map with 18 Biden-won seats.”

“The mandate that has been delivered shows that a majority of Americans are eager for secure borders, lower costs, peace through strength, and a return to common sense,” he added. 

“With unified Republican government, if we meet this historic moment together, the next two years can result in the most consequential Congress of the modern era.”