Republicans say Johnson faces "tough" fight to stay speaker
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House Speaker Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 20, 2024. Photo: The Washington Post via Getty Images.
Republicans members of Congress said in Sunday show interviews that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) could have a difficult battle ahead to keep his gavel.
Why it matters: Johnson can spare precious few defections on Jan. 3 given his razor-thin majority, and some Republicans are openly wishing they had a different kind of leader.
- Some would prefer the notoriously congenial Johnson was "more forceful like Nancy Pelosi," Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told Axios on Friday.
Driving the news: Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said on CNN's "State of the Union that Johnson "has some tough decisions" to make, and that "ultimately, it's going to be decided who President Trump likes."
- Burchett, who is undecided on whether to vote for Johnson on Jan. 3, said "he has to show me that we're going to be serious about making these cuts."
- Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a House member until two years ago, said on "Fox News Sunday" that Johnson's reelection fight is "going to be a challenge, but I believe he can survive."
- "At the end of the day, he can only lose, I think, two votes," Mullin noted.
Zoom in: Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said Johnson has been a "fantastic speaker" and that he is supporting him, but still criticized him for crafting a sprawling federal funding package last week.
- "This cannot be the norm ... We have to get back to regular order and pass our appropriations bills," said Gonzales.
- Gonzales was one of several dozen Republicans who voted against the final, trimmed-down version of the government spending bill, which runs through March.
State of play: Johnson will come in with a 219-215 majority, meaning two votes against him will block his path to retaining his gavel.
- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said last week that he will vote for an alternative candidate to Johnson – rather than voting "present" – meaning his vote will count against the Louisianan.
- Several others including Burchett and Reps. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) have said they are undecided.
