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 to reporters. “Sorry, that was confusing for a minute,” he said. “I’ve been in a meeting for nine hours.”

On Thursday morning, Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., arrived a few minutes before votes with a coffee in hand, yawning. “It’s a hell of a way to do business,” he said when asked about the strategy. 

“It’s not the preferred way. I think you’re better off working across the aisle,” said Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. He said he left Capitol Hill at about 11 p.m. Wednesday night. “We’re playing a game of Twister to get to 218 [GOP votes],” he said.

The tactic hasn’t always panned out. 

Johnson had less luck in February with an attempt to hold a vote open and whip in real time. Bacon, who helped vote it down, told Roll Call at the time that he didn’t bother sticking around to negotiate. Leadership was “blowing up” his phone, trying to get him to come back to the floor and change his vote.

“I went back to my office and opened a beer,” he said. 

But Johnson’s strategy worked — this time. 

The House left this week after passing four high-stakes bills, including measures to set up a budget reconciliation process, end the 76-day Homeland Security Department shutdown and extend a key spy power before it was set to expire Thursday night. 

“Nothing comes easy in D.C., there’s always a certain amount of chaos,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D. “But every week, we still get done what we need to get done.”

Rather than looking inward, House Republicans appear to be blaming their Senate counterparts for the vote chaos.

“The Speaker has a 3 seat margin, yet we’ve passed tax cuts, welfare reform, cut green scam subsidies, SAVE America, Farm bill with some reforms, Flat discretionary spending, FISA with reforms & a CBDC ban… YES we should do more,” wrote Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, in a post. “But blame the Senate & big govt swamp spenders…”