House conservatives are warning Speaker Mike Johnson that he has work to do if he wants to keep his position. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is in a tough spot after a spending fight nearly caused a government shutdown.
The situation left him caught between President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the more conservative members of his party. With the vote for speaker coming up in just two weeks, Johnson is under pressure to mend relationships within his party, especially since he has a very slim majority.
Some Republicans have already said they’ll oppose him, and others are unhappy with how he handled a temporary funding bill. Representative Andy Ogles R-Tenn. suggested Johnson should spend the holiday reaching out to members to address their concerns. Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris R-Md. is undecided about who should lead the House, and Representative Andy Biggs R-Ariz. is taking the two-week break to think about Johnson’s leadership. Biggs called the funding situation “a disaster.”
Johnson’s troubles aren’t just with the more extreme members of his party. Some more moderate Republicans are frustrated, too, because he presented a large funding bill negotiated with Democrats, pulled it after Trump criticized it, and then quickly moved forward with a new plan backed by Trump. Representative Nicole Malliotakis R-N.Y. said there was little communication from Johnson’s leadership, which frustrated many members.
If Johnson faces another leadership challenge, it could distract from the Republican Party’s legislative priorities, including key bills on border and energy issues. While Trump publicly criticized Johnson’s first spending plan, he also privately warned lawmakers not to do anything that would slow down his agenda.
Some Republicans hope there won’t be another fight over the speaker’s job, as it could hurt the party’s momentum after the election. Representative Steve Womack R-Ark. said Johnson’s situation deserves careful consideration, and time off might help ease some frustrations. However, with such a thin majority, Johnson’s position is far from secure.
Despite the challenges, Johnson did manage to pass a government funding bill with broad support from the House. He kept defections to just 34 votes, which seemed unlikely just a couple of days earlier. Now, he has two weeks to hope tempers will settle.
Johnson’s fate may depend on Trump’s support. If Trump withdraws his endorsement, Johnson could face significant trouble. Some Republicans have suggested alternatives, like Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan or Majority Whip Tom Emmer, but they haven’t said whether they want the job.
While this chaotic week has left some Republicans frustrated, they see it as a test of Johnson’s ability to lead and work with Trump. Some believe that both Johnson and the party as a whole need to be better organized to face the challenges of the new Congress.
Johnson has spent months working to gain support from his conservative colleagues, which may help him win back their favor. Despite the recent drama, some Republicans believe he has the support needed to continue leading and to implement Trump’s agenda. However, many hope the party can avoid another prolonged speaker fight like the one that delayed the election of Kevin McCarthy two years ago.
In the end, Republicans want to avoid chaos and focus on their legislative goals. If Johnson doesn’t succeed, they may need to consider other options. But for now, most hope he can get the party back on track and get to work.