Candidate favoured by Trump is elected House speaker ending US political chaos

Mike Johnson has been appointed speaker of the House of Representatives (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Republicans eagerly elected Republican Mike Johnson as House speaker on Wednesday, elevating a deeply conservative but lesser-known leader to the seat of US power and ending for now the political chaos in their majority.

Mr Johnson of Louisiana swept on the first ballot with support from all Republicans anxious to put the past weeks of tumult behind and get on with the business of governing.