Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

At the end of today's first speakership ballot, there was a possibility that even Donald Trump's endorsement hadn't secured Mike Johnson enough support to retain his position as leader of the lower chamber of the US Congress.

But, as enough Republican House members eventually swung Johnson's way, here's a quick summary of how events played out:

• The final voting tally stood at 218 votes for Johnson, 215 for his Democratic rival Hakeem Jeffries, and one for another member, Republican Tom Emmer
• This was despite an initial appearance that Johnson would lose a first ballot - at first, he was two short of the 218 votes required to win
• That's because three Republicans initially voted against Johnson, but changed their votes to support the candidate at the last minute
• After the vote, losing candidate and Democratic minority leader Jeffries took to the stand to address the chamber first, encouraging his colleagues to "put down our partisan swords" while also vowing that House Democrats would "fight" for their legislative priorities
• Then in his own speech, Johnson promised to put "America first" and implement President-elect Donald Trump's legislative agenda, before taking the speaker's oath of office
• The incoming president then praised his speaker pick on social media, and commended Johnson for receiving an "unprecedented vote of confidence in Congress"

We're ending our live coverage from Capitol Hill today, but you can stay up to date on the latest below:

• Johnson re-elected as House Speaker in razor-tight margin
• What one picture tells us about Trump's power in Congress

Meet the new (old) House speakerpublished at 22:22 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

22:22 GMT 3 January

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent, reporting from Capitol Hill

Meet the new speaker- same as the old speaker. Despite an early afternoon of drama, the House of Representatives has now re-elected Mike Johnson as speaker and sworn in all its members for the new congressional session.

They've moved on to debating the rules that will govern the chamber - not an insignificant matter, given that some of the proposed changes could make it harder to depose Johnson before his speakership expires in two years.

Outside of the Capitol, a heavy snow is falling in Washington - as reporters peer through the frosty windows from their working area just outside the House floor.

House Republicans – and the incoming Trump administration – may feel a bit warmer after this afternoon, however. They've cleared their first major hurdle and head into the new year (mostly) united.

There are plenty of warning signs that their small majority in the House will be an ongoing headache. But that is a problem for another day.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Image source, Getty Images

Before Mike Johnson could retain his role as speaker, he had to convince three Republicans who had initially voted against him to change their minds.

Up on Capitol Hill, we've just heard from one of these dissenting voices, Representative Ralph Norman, who tells reporters that he now trusts Johnson in the leadership role.

Norman assures reporters that "no deals were cut" after he initially refused to back Donald Trump's pick for speaker, but says he voted against Johnson at first to show his "frustration" at the last 15 months.

But, Norman describes how by speaking with Johnson after voting, the speaker candidate was able to assure him that he would focus on "more conservative measures".

Norman says he even interrupted the incoming president during a game of golf for a call from the House floor, where Trump told him that his pick was the only one with the "likeability factor".

And, with Johnson now re-elected, Norman says the disruption he and two other colleagues caused was "worth the hour it took".

"I feel really good about where we are," he stresses.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill

South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson, a Republican, spoke to reporters after leaving the House floor and explained why he thinks both Representatives Ralph Norman and Keith Self changed their votes to end up backing Mike Johnson.

"I think people of good faith looked one another in the eye, made some commitments to one another that this is not just about Mike Johnson, this is not just about President Trump, that it’s a team sport," Dusty Johnson said.

When asked about the role Trump played in getting House Speaker Mike Johnson re-elected, Congressman Dusty Johnson said the president-elect understands "that the American people shockingly have little tolerance now for DC nonsense."

"His (Trump's) interactions over the last few weeks have been really helpful," Dusty Johnson said.

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett said the early votes against Mike Johnson don't signal that anything is amiss when it comes to Republicans' razor-thin House majority.

"I just think it shows that democracy works and our Constitution works,” he said.

On the first day of the 119th US Congress, Mike Johnson avoided a scare to narrowly retain the speakership ahead of Democrat Hakeem Jeffries.

Johnson had to overcome a few Republican members initially refusing to vote in a first ballot, amid proceedings in a lively chamber that eventually swung his way.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Ottilie Mitchell
US reporter

While nearly all the attention on Capitol Hill today was focused on the House speaker's race, Representative Sarah McBride has also made history - becoming the first openly transgender person to become a member of Congress.

But her arrival hasn't come without backlash.

After November's election, Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace introduced a bill to ban transgender women from female bathrooms on Capitol Hill – a push that newly re-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson supported, saying "women deserve women-only spaces".

Democrat McBride called the bill a distraction "from the fact that they (Republicans) have absolutely no policy solutions".

Image source, Reuters

House lawmakers now have all taken their oaths, officially becoming members of the new Congress.

They are now congratulating each other on the floor.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Image source, Getty Images

Texas Congressman Keith Self, who changed his vote to ultimately back Johnson, is talking to reporters outside the House chamber and saying he changed his vote because of additions to the reconciliation team, which will meet to discuss spending and the federal budget. “We shored up the reconciliation team because we know this will be a heavy lift to get the Trump agenda across the line in the reconciliation package,” he says. This included adding members from the far-right House Freedom Caucus to the group in addition to Republican leadership. Self says he spoke with President-elect Trump this morning and after the speaker vote. “This was all about making the Trump agenda more successful,” he says.

Johnson now raises his right hand in the air and takes the oath of office, officially making him both the House Speaker and a member of the next Congress.

In doing so, he is asked if he promises to defend the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic, "so help you God".

He answers: "I do".

He is met with a round of applause, and a standing ovation in the House.

Johnson reads a prayer he says was recited by Thomas Jefferson to end his speech: 'Thomas Jefferson's Prayer for the Nation'.

The speaker says that Jefferson - the country's third president - read the poem every day during his presidency, as he asked for "justice and peace".

Image source, Getty Images

Johnson is going on to talk about immigration, saying the incoming administration will secure the border, deport illegal immigrants and finish building a wall along the southern US border with Mexico.

He asks Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House, to work with him on this agenda.

He goes on to say the Trump administration will defeat inflation and make life affordable again.

Johnson says Trump's administration will restore America's energy dominance and end the EV mandates passed during Joe Biden's administration.

Johnson goes on to say "we must preserve what makes America strong by adhering to time-tested truths."

He gives examples saying it is "better to give a hand-up than a hand-out", and "innovation thrives when bureaucracy dies".

Johnson continues to outline the Republican Party's intentions upon returning to power.

He describes how the party will pass legislation to roll back the "totalitarian 4th branch of government known as the administrative state".

"American people have called on us to reject business as usual," he says. "We must and we will heed their call."

Johnson now says he is returning as Speaker during "momentous time in the history of our nation".

He says lawmakers are "stewards" of the American revolution, and describes how he has recently been reminded that "freedom is never free".

In what is a deeply patriotic speech, he speaks about the US abolishing slavery, "winning two world wars", and landing on the moon.

Johnson then reflects on how the country will in 2026 celebrate its 250th anniversary, and suggests that the country is the envy of the world for being "explicitly American".

Image source, Getty Images

Johnson says that the 119th Congress will champion the idea of America first - a slogan promoted by Donald Trump.

Reflecting his Republican values, Johnson suggests that the last four years under Democrat Joe Biden have demonstrated weak leadership, which has put Americans in a perilous position.

After Trump's re-election, he says Americans are demanding their interests are put first again.

"And we will," Johnson says.

Mike Johnson is speaking now and begins by inviting lawmakers for a moment of silence for the victims of the deadly attack in New Orleans. Johnson represents a district in Louisiana north-east of the city where 14 people were killed on New Year's in a truck attack.

He then thanks his wife and children.

We'll continue bringing you all the key lines so stay with us.

In a social media post this afternoon, Trump congratulated Johnson for "receiving an unprecedented Vote of Confidence in Congress".

Trump said Johnson would be a great Speaker and the US will benefit from his leadership.

"The People of America have waited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "They’ll get it now, and America will be greater than ever before!"

Hakeem Jeffries, the highest ranking Democrat in the House, is now speaking.

He says the election is over and it's time to "come together" and serve the American people

"Put down our partisan swords," he urges the House.

Jeffries says they will "work with anyone" to achieve goals like lowering the cost of living and fixing borders.

He is expected to swear in Mike Johnson as Speaker after he finishes addressing lawmakers.

Image source, Getty Images

Newly re-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson has just returned to the House floor at the Capitol, and is expected to speak to the new 119th Congress soon. Stick with us, we'll bring you the top lines.