WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Republican Mike Johnson appeared to be falling short in his bid to retain the top post in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, in a sign that
President-elect Donald Trump's party could struggle to stay unified in Congress this year.
With voting still ongoing, at least three Republicans voted against Johnson, likely leaving the incumbent House speaker short of the majority he would need to remain in the job.
Republicans control the chamber by a razor-thin 219-215 majority. With voting still under way, members still had a chance to change their vote or to cast a vote if they had abstained. The final outcome was still in play.
The vote could be an early indication of the party's ability to hang together as it advances Trump's agenda of tax cuts and border enforcement. It also could test Trump's clout on Capitol Hill, where a handful of Republicans have already shown a willingness to defy him.