Capitol Hill’s unguarded moments will once again be captured by C-SPAN cameras when they return to the House chamber for Friday’s speaker vote and beyond.
The move comes as lawmakers are set to elect a speaker and certify Donald Trump’s presidential election victory when Congress reconvenes, Axios reported Tuesday.
While C-SPAN cameras are allowed to roll every Jan. 3, by the time lawmakers meet to certify the presidential election results, a House rules package vote explicitly barring them from the chamber is typically already passed, according to the publication.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office told Axios cameras will also be allowed on Jan. 6 when Congress certifies the 2024 election. C-SPAN cameras were allowed to roll during the drawn-out speaker election in 2023, giving the American public “a rare glimpse into the House's usually hidden machinations,” according to the outlet.
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“The high level of public engagement with that behind-the-scenes access led to a push to allow the independent news organization to be granted permanent permission to freely film the inside of the chamber,” Axios said.
While Johnson won over Trump’s endorsement to hold onto the speaker’s gavel, he can only lose one vote with the Republican’s slim majority.
That could stir a second act of the drama that unfolded out of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's marathon vote that lasted four days and 15 ballots, according to Axios.
The battle over the speaker’s race two years also spawned several viral moments, including video captured by C-SPAN showing Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) getting into a physical altercation with former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on the House floor.
