House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) looks like he’ll hold on to the gavel for the foreseeable future, but he’s struggling to keep his rowdy caucus in line.
After calling for party unity and telling Republicans not to get involved in contests against incumbents, an increasing number of members are ignoring the leader’s pleas. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) added his name to those opposing Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) in his primary while speaking with CNN on a clip that aired Sunday on Inside Politics.
“You know, it’s all about norms have been undermined by these guys. But we never vacated a speaker. They did it, right? Now, they’re going to get to people in their districts,” Bacon said. “So my view of it is I was never going to go against an incumbent you just — you support. You let the voters in that district take care of that. But I am supporting Bob Good’s opponent now.”
“Bob Good came out, endorsed my opponent,” he added. “So we’re going to go in with everything we’ve got.”
Good is facing a primary challenge from Virginia state Sen. John McGuire in the GOP race for the commonwealth’s 5th Congressional District on June 18.
The House Freedom Caucus chairman has received endorsements from Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL), among others. McGuire has garnered endorsements from Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Mike Rogers (R-AL), Austin Scott (R-GA), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). The Republican Jewish Coalition also endorsed McGuire over Good.
In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, Bacon is facing a primary challenge from Dan Frei. Bacon has been endorsed by Johnson.
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Bacon and Good’s primary race as well as those of Reps. Mike Bost (R-IL) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) have been the most high-profile cases of GOP infighting between supporting incumbents and challengers.
Johnson had pleaded earlier in the year for Republicans not to campaign against incumbents as the GOP hopes to keep and expand its majority in the House of Representatives.
