GOP Powerhouses Come Forward to Support Johnson as Speaker

By all signs, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has lost the House in terms of having enough support to remain Speaker in the next term.

That may have just changed, however, as numerous prominent GOP voices support Johnson to keep the gavel, including Donald Trump.

Mike is in Trouble

There are quite a few MAGA members of Congress who have lost faith in Mike Johnson.

Leading the charge against him after the latest legislative disaster are Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Thomas Massie (R-KY).

Both have stated they are likely to support someone else for the gavel, with Massie having stated there is no way he will support Johnson.

Johnson has failed to deliver on his promises to the point that even Republican Senators, such as Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), have stated that it could be time for change.

The problem, however, is that if the GOP cannot elect a Speaker on January 3 when they return to chambers, it could delay the certification of the 2024 election, and that is something that Donald Trump simply cannot afford to have happen.

Big Voices Speaking Up

There is a lot at stake here, and everyone knows if the same thing happens that took place in 2022, the GOP has no shot of hanging on to the House, and that is already going to be difficult based on history.

It is rare when the party that has just won the White House keeps the House in its first mid-term election, as Americans hold Congress accountable for failed election promises.

To that point, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is backing Johnson, stating, “Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, is doing an extraordinary job. I tell everybody, I was a pretty effective Speaker. I could never do his job. He has no margins. Any two or three members can rebel at any moment.”

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) also took up for Johnson, stating, “Mike Johnson is arguably the most conservative speaker that’s ever been elected to the office. He’s done a great job keeping the conference unified, getting major things off the plate, and ultimately keeping the majority, which frankly, despite the best efforts of some of these same people that are now calling for Johnson’s removal, we held on to the House because of seats like mine.”

Trump Finally Speaks Up

Johnson allies have been begging for Trump to get involved in this conversation, and on Monday, he finally did.

In saying that Johnson had his “Complete & Total Endorsement,” Trump added, “The American people need IMMEDIATE relief from all of the destructive policies of the last Administration. Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man.”

Johnson has been in touch with Trump regularly, so I am sure Trump gave him a checklist he wants done as soon as Congress resumes, and I would bet everything I own that Johnson has pledged to try to deliver on everything Trump is asking for.

That is still not going to be enough for Johnson to get the complete support of Congress, so it will be interesting to see how this vote goes. Johnson will need the majority vote, and with Republicans only having a four-member advantage, they only have three votes to spare, and we know there are already at least two dissenting members. I won’t say that Johnson will not wind up with the gavel, but it is going to be very hard for him to win on the first vote, or even the first day, putting the election certification at risk.