When a 5-minute vote takes 5 hours

The clock was ticking in the House chamber. Or was it? A key vote on the floor began with famous last words: “This is a 5-minute vote.” More than two hours later, it was still going. Later that day, it happened again. Leaders held open another seemingly endless vote, as Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., huddled in corners and cloakrooms Wednesday with holdouts from his own party. This time, it took over five hours to get his members in line. The tactic — whipping support for high-profile bills in real time, during the vote, as the countdown hits zero and then beyond — is not a new one for Johnson. With such a small majority, Republican leadership frequently comes to the floor without any guarantee they can pull out a win. It’s created one of Johnson’s favorite refrains, uttered when reporters question whether he has enough support to pass a bill: “Stay tuned.” The strategy makes for long days and longer nights, which can work in Johnson’s favor. As negotiations drag on, in theory, members’ resolve weakens. Holdouts left Johnson’s office Wednesday night visibly tired. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., had to stop and correct himself a few times while talking