House GOP tensions erupt ahead of speaker vote
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House Speaker Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 3, 2025. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images.
House Republicans' chronic infighting is resurfacing in spectacular fashion in the run-up to Friday's vote to elect a speaker of the House.
Why it matters: Right-wing hardliners and allies of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) are at each others' throats in a likely preview of what is to come in the next two years.
- Johnson is struggling to secure the support he needs to retain his gavel, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) digging in in opposition and claiming to reporters several of his colleagues will join him in voting no.
- With a 219-215 majority and Democrats firmly behind House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Johnson will likely not be able to afford multiple GOP defections.
- A number of House Republicans, mostly members of the right-wing Freedom Caucus, still refuse to commit to voting for Johnson.
Driving the news: Johnson's skeptics are circulating an unsigned memo, a copy of which was obtained by Axios, outlining his "4 'successes' and 26 'fails' for House Republicans" since taking office in November 2023.
- The document homes in on the government spending bill Johnson shepherded through Congress last month along bipartisan lines.
- It also takes aim at Johnson for not pushing harder for spending cuts, passing aid to Ukraine and reauthorizing FISA.
- "The House must be organized to deliver on the historic mandate granted to President Trump and Republicans. It currently is not," the memo says.
The other side: Johnson allies are growing increasingly frustrated with their right-wing colleagues.
- "Anybody who's voting against the speaker to try to get personal favors or to try to get publicity needs to rethink why they're in Congress," fumed Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.).
- Another House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios there is "a very small group within our party who are trying to extract something, not for the country ... but for themselves."
State of play: Several House Republicans told Axios on Friday morning that it is possible Johnson fails on the first ballot, with at least three or four GOP lawmakers expected to defect.
- A second House Republican who spoke on the condition of anonymity predicted "at least one failed vote" so that Johnson's critics can "extract a public ounce of flesh."
- The lawmaker said there are "only four real" rebels and that "everyone else is a poser."
Yes, but: Johnson insisted to reporters that he is not prepared to make a backroom deal to secure the gavel and expects to win on the first ballot.
- Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a One America News Network host and ally of many of Johnson's skeptics, posted on X: "Mike Johnson will be elected Speaker today. On the first vote. People might like or dislike that. I'm just reporting the news."
