With less than 24 hours before the 119th Congress convenes, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) reportedly does not have the votes to secure the gavel and remain House Speaker.
Despite getting an endorsement from President Trump, Johnson is still scrapping to gain 218 votes.
JUST IN: Mike Johnson does NOT currently have the votes to remain Speaker, per Politico
The Speaker vote is scheduled in less than 24 hours, and roughly a DOZEN Republicans are still “on the fence.”
Buckle up, folks. pic.twitter.com/U4qpVL545J
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 2, 2025
POLITICO reports:
The Louisiana Republican has been working diligently over the past few days to lock down the 218 votes he needs, even after spending the holidays working the phones and meeting with incoming President-elect Donald Trump. But even the incoming president’s repeated endorsement earlier this week doesn’t mean Johnson is guaranteed a victory. Roughly a dozen Republicans are still on the fence, as some of them try to get concessions on the rules or commitments from Johnson on spending.
There are some positive signs for the speaker. In addition to Trump’s restated backing, Johnson has managed to keep his official “no” votes to only one so far — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). And one notable holdout, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), is back in Johnson’s camp. Plus, despite multiple conservatives expressing reservations about Johnson, there’s not a clear alternative candidate who could get the votes.
And Johnson’s allies believe they’re making progress in decreasing the number of Republicans who are outwardly opposed to him retaining the gavel, according to two Republicans familiar with the conversations, viewing them as “pretty soft holdouts.” Still, the speaker’s allies privately admit he may not be able to win on the first few ballots.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) said he doesn’t think Johnson has the necessary votes to remain Speaker.
Fiscal hawk Chip Roy predicts Mike Johnson lacks the votes to cling onto speakership https://t.co/NH8YNEb19d pic.twitter.com/09SLFXTkDO
— New York Post (@nypost) December 31, 2024
NEW – Rep. Chip Roy commented on Speaker Mike Johnson retaining the gavel; “Right now, I don’t believe he has the votes” pic.twitter.com/9xAFCdqrPe
— Overton (@overton_news) December 31, 2024
From the New York Post:
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has indicated he will oppose Johnson, while others such as Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Andry Harris (R-Md.) and Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) have said they are undecided.
Republicans will start off with 219 lawmakers in the House on Friday, meaning Johnson can only afford to lose one vote to hit the needed 218 threshold, unless certain reps decide to vote “Present.”
“Right now, I don’t believe he has the votes on Friday,” Roy added to Fox Business.
The Texan didn’t rule out supporting Johnson eventually but pitched Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as potential alternatives. None of those men were able to garner the votes needed to succeed McCarthy and Jordan publicly backed Johnson.
“Mike’s a friend and maybe he can answer the call and deliver an agenda and a plan. Byron Donalds is a good man and a good friend. I nominated him two years ago. Jim Jordan’s a good man and a good friend,” Roy added.
“There are other members of leadership in the conference who could do the job.”
Earlier this week, Massie provided a lengthy explanation why he’s opposed to Johnson for House Speaker.
“First let me note that the ‘vote for Mike’ camp is not trying to make the case that Mike Johnson is endowed with the qualities necessary to lead our conference. Even you have limited yourself here to procedural justifications for his speakership rather than telling us why he is a good or capable leader,” Massie said.
“Even if Mike’s entire goal is to do everything Trump wants without debate or question (which I would argue is not healthy for the institution of Congress), he’s not going to be good at it. He already demonstrated this month that he won’t tell the President what is achievable and what is not achievable in the House, and he lacks the situational awareness himself to know what can pass and what cannot,” he continued.
Challenge accepted.
First let me note that the “vote for Mike” camp is not trying to make the case that Mike Johnson is endowed with the qualities necessary to lead our conference. Even you have limited yourself here to procedural justifications for his speakership rather than…
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 31, 2024
FULL TEXT:
Challenge accepted.
First let me note that the “vote for Mike” camp is not trying to make the case that Mike Johnson is endowed with the qualities necessary to lead our conference. Even you have limited yourself here to procedural justifications for his speakership rather than telling us why he is a good or capable leader.
Even if Mike’s entire goal is to do everything Trump wants without debate or question (which I would argue is not healthy for the institution of Congress), he’s not going to be good at it. He already demonstrated this month that he won’t tell the President what is achievable and what is not achievable in the House, and he lacks the situational awareness himself to know what can pass and what cannot.
ADVERTISEMENT1. “What do we hope to gain?”
A competent Speaker who has the will and the ability to capitalize on this once in a decade opportunity. Johnson is not up for this task. Also, we want a Speaker who inspires the public and who can make our case in the media, so we can keep the majority for the second half of Trump’s term. Johnson nearly led us to the minority in what was a banner year for Trump. He is certain to lose us the majority in 2026.2. “No one can get more votes.”
It’s somewhat ridiculous to assert that Mike Johnson is the only member of Congress electable to Speaker. He was only electable the first time because he hadn’t held any type of leadership position, nor had he ever fought for anything, so no one disliked him and everyone was tired of voting. He won by being the least objectionable candidate, and he no longer possesses that title.3. “Risk crippling Trump’s win.”
This is argument is a scare tactic, meant to stampede the masses, plain and simple. There is no legal or parliamentary argument for nullifying the national election if a speaker is not in place on January 6th.4. “They are allies of the democrats”
Actually it is Mike Johnson who routinely passes major legislation (Ukraine, Omnibus, FISA spying) with only a minority of republicans, and relying on most democrats. He also owes his current speakership to the democrats. Here’s the roll call for the motion to table the motion to vacate last summer. Pelosi and Jeffries teamed up to save Johnson:
https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2024/roll188.xmlIn closing, the emperor has no clothes and the entire conference knows it but few will say it. The general public knows it too. Please don’t shoot the messengers
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
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