While it looks like Congress may avert a government shutdown, the latest word out of Washington is that House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) handling of the end-of-the-year spending bill may be in jeopardy. The newly sworn-in House of Representatives will vote on the speakership on January 3, and a number of Republicans are planning to vote against him.
Among his critics, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has pledged to oppose him. Others, including Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Greg Steube (R-Fla.), have voiced concerns about his leadership.
And there may be more. The latest funding proposal was rejected 233-174, with 38 Republicans opposing it due to concerns over increased debt and the inclusion of $110 billion in disaster aid without offsets.
Adding fuel to the fire, chatter about potential replacements for Johnson is gaining momentum. Names like Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) are circulating as possible alternatives. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) described the level of speculation as unprecedented.
With a slim GOP majority in the next Congress, Johnson faces a precarious future. The January vote could lead to a protracted speaker battle, and we know what that’s like. Last year, it took 15 ballots to come up with a replacement speaker after Kevin McCarthy was ousted, making the House GOP look like a dysfunctional caucus of misfits.
The question is whether Johnson can survive the growing internal divisions to avoid the same fate as McCarthy.
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I think Republicans need to work out their issues privately and not force us through a prolonged battle over the speakership. When Trump takes office on January 20, we don’t need distractions or a divided GOP. If they can’t get their act together, it will be impossible to get Trump’s agenda through Congress.
While some in the GOP have legitimate issues with Johnson’s approach to passing a continuing resolution (CR) before Christmas, internal party divisions only serve to empower Democrats.
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich weighed in on the controversy Friday on 2WAY with Mark Halperin, predicting that Johnson will hold onto his position despite the backlash. Gingrich emphasized the lack of viable alternatives and Johnson’s ability to collaborate with President-elect Donald Trump as pivotal factors in his favor.
“I think the odds are better than even he’ll stay as speaker because … look, I was fired after four years. [Former Speaker of the House John] Boehner quit in disgust. [Former Speaker of the House Paul] Ryan quit, [Former Speaker of the House Kevin] McCarthy was fired by the caucus,” Gingrich explained.
“It’s a tough job, but I think you look around and say, ‘So who’s gonna replace him?’" he continued. "Johnson is doing the best he can in an almost impossible situation and he’s learning how to work with Trump. Trump wants him to bring up the debt ceiling. He brings it up. Now I think he also has to offload on Trump. ‘Find me the last 20 votes. I’ll do everything you want. I can’t find the last 20 votes.’”
With no likely replacement, Republicans have to get their act together and recognize what’s at stake. With Democrats united and eager to exploit GOP infighting, maintaining cohesion is essential to advancing conservative policies. Johnson, while not perfect, is far from the enemy. As Gingrich aptly noted, the speakership is an “almost impossible situation,” and the absence of a clear successor underscores the importance of rallying behind current leadership.
Republicans have a choice: continue internal disputes or focus on the greater battle against Democratic overreach. The future of the conservative agenda depends on their decision.
