Congress is gearing up to choose their next Speaker of the House this Friday, but it’s far from a done deal for incumbent Speaker Mike Johnson.
The GOP’s slim majority in the House makes Johnson’s path to the gavel a tough one. He’s going to need all the votes he can get, but some moderate Republicans are urging him not to bow down to the demands of the party’s rising far-right wing.
Even with big-name endorsements from President-elect Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Johnson might not have enough sway to win over every member of the GOP. There’s a growing sense that he’s going to have to do some serious negotiating, especially with those within his own party who are hesitant to back him.
In a recent Fox News interview, Johnson acknowledged that he could “only afford to lose one or two” GOP votes, which shows just how tight things are.
Some far-right members of Congress are still holding out, unsure whether they’ll commit to Johnson’s bid, and that’s making some waves in the GOP. Reports say that several House Republicans are warning him not to give in to the fringe members of the party, especially after the messy exit of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
One Republican even shared with Axios, “Don’t do what McCarthy did. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Don’t promise things that go beyond what we can reasonably do.” Another member added, “You can’t trust those who are constantly undermining us.”
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky made it clear this week on social media that he won’t be backing Johnson, while Rep. Victoria Spartz from Indiana is hinting that her vote might depend on promises to tackle government spending. Meanwhile, there are still some members of the House Freedom Caucus who haven’t yet revealed where they stand.
Massie also spoke to the Wall Street Journal, saying he won’t be swayed by pressure from his colleagues. “If they thought I had no Fs to give before, I definitely have no Fs to give now,” he boldly stated.
With the GOP holding just 219 seats to the Democrats’ 215, Johnson’s going to need near-unanimous support from his party to secure the speakership. Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has already made it clear that his party won’t be backing Johnson’s bid.
In his interview, Johnson acknowledged the challenge, saying he was aware of the opposition and was ready to negotiate. “I’ve spoken to every one of those colleagues who might vote against me,” Johnson shared. “We’re working on process reforms within the House.”
The race for Speaker is heating up, and it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top. Stay tuned!
