House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) continues to whip for the necessary votes to secure his re-election, engaging in ongoing talks with hard-line conservatives ahead of a scheduled House vote at noon. On Thursday, Johnson met with conservative Republicans at the Capitol who have voiced dissatisfaction with his leadership—with some expressing a desire to elect someone other than the Louisiana Congressman to lead the House. The meeting ended without Johnson making much progress in securing the critical House faction’s votes.
In November, Republicans unanimously nominated Johnson for another term. However, some lawmakers expressed frustration following a year-end spending deal with Democrats aimed at preventing a government shutdown. This agreement faced criticism from prominent figures, including Elon Musk and President-elect Donald J. Trump, contributing to its collapse. Trump nevertheless reaffirmed his support for Johnson’s re-election earlier this week.
To retain his role, Johnson requires nearly total backing from the House Republican conference on the floor. With the party holding a narrow margin—219 seats to the Democrats’ 215—Johnson can only afford to lose one Republican vote if all members are present and Democrats are united behind their leader, Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) has already announced his opposition to Johnson’s re-election.
On a positive note for Johnson, Trump has urged House Republicans to proceed swiftly to implement his policy agenda rather than fight over positions. Additionally, no other candidates have surfaced to challenge Johnson for the Speaker position. “I think we get it done on the first round,” Johnson said in an interview ahead of the vote, adding he hopes to unify the House Republican caucus.
Nonetheless, some Republicans remain undecided. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) expressed indecision over backing Johnson, emphasizing the need for change within the party’s leadership.
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