Johnson Aims to Maintain Speakership Amid Ongoing Republican Resistance
Before electing a speaker, no other official business, including the certification of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory on Jan. 6, can occur.
WASHINGTON—On the inaugural day of the new Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has a singular objective: to retain his position and prevent a Republican insurrection.
The first meeting of the 119th Congress is scheduled for Jan. 3 at 12 p.m. ET, with the primary agenda to select a speaker. No other official activities, including the Jan. 6 certification of President-elect Donald Trump’s election win, can proceed without a speaker being elected first.
To maintain his role, Johnson will need to secure a majority of votes from the full House, although the total required may shift depending on the number of vacant seats and the participation rate in the vote.
If the full House votes, as is anticipated, Johnson will need all 218 Republicans voting in his favor; this is a significant challenge considering the Republicans hold 219 seats, with at least one Republican openly opposing him. Currently, one seat, formerly held by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), is vacant, reducing the House’s total to 434 members.
While Johnson is favored to retain his post, the path may be more complicated than it appears. Despite having President-elect Donald Trump’s support, multiple House Republicans have publicly expressed uncertainty or outright opposition to granting Johnson another term as speaker.
This scenario echoes the beginning of the previous 118th Congress, where it took five days and 15 rounds of voting to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as speaker. Similar to Johnson, McCarthy faced scrutiny regarding his conservative credentials and ties to the establishment.
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As he approaches this pivotal day, Johnson finds himself in a stronger, yet uncertain position.
“No Democrats will be on hand to save him,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) stated during an appearance on MSNBC.
Nevertheless, Johnson has expressed optimism regarding his prospects.
“We will get this accomplished,” Johnson told Fox News. “We cannot afford any palace drama here. We must initiate our work immediately as Congress begins tomorrow, and unity is essential. The American electorate has provided us a mandate.”
Typically, a small number of GOP dissenters would not pose a significant problem for an aspiring speaker: It is uncommon for Republican speakers to enjoy unanimous support from their diverse conference.
This situation, however, with the slim Republican majority, implies that every defection could be detrimental to Johnson, who can tolerate no more than one GOP opponent.
Currently, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is the only Republican to voice firm opposition to Johnson’s candidacy, declaring on X, “I will not be voting for Mike Johnson on January 3rd, 2025.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) addresses a House Second Amendment Caucus press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 8, 2022.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
“I hope my colleagues will support my stance, as history won’t grant America another chance,” Massie asserted, drawing a parallel between Johnson and former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who had open disagreements with the president-elect during his first term.
Growing Concerns
Several Republicans have expressed cautious views, citing Johnson’s perceived lack of significant accomplishments during his first term and criticizing his decisions regarding government funding and various legislations.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) has also voiced doubts about Johnson.
“I remain undecided, similar to many of my colleagues; we witnessed numerous failures last year that concern us and might hinder our ability to advance the president’s agenda,” Roy articulated to Fox Business on Dec. 31.
The House Freedom Caucus could pose particular challenges for Johnson. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the influential caucus, mentioned a meeting regarding the vote on Jan. 2, although no meeting details were disclosed.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), chair of the House Freedom Caucus, has also yet to decide his position, according to spokesperson Anna Adamian on Dec. 31.
The chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), engages in conversation with The Epoch Times at his office on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 20, 2024.Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) indicated that he too is withholding commitment.
“I haven’t made any public or private pledges yet,” Biggs reported to Fox News on Dec. 30. “I wish to discuss plans with the speaker, as there are specific issues that need addressing, particularly concerning budget matters.”
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) remains undecided on her vote, as she informed reporters in the Capitol on Jan. 2.
In an earlier conversation on “Fox and Friends,” Spartz suggested that her reservations stem from dissatisfaction with Johnson’s first-term record, stating, “Unfortunately, we cannot realize President Trump’s agenda if we do not have a Speaker endowed with courage, vision, and a strategy.”
Greene might also oppose Johnson, having previously engaged in several high-profile disagreements with him.
In November, Greene told The Epoch Times she would not challenge Johnson, citing the absence of declared contenders and the conference’s unanimous decision to endorse him. This stance may change as pressure mounts from other Republicans.
