Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faces a perilous path to retaining his role in leadership as some Republicans express disapproval over how he handled a government funding fight this month.
Congress passed a short-term extension in government funding on Wednesday, temporarily avoiding a shutdown as Washington shifts its attention to the November election. But the measure passed with more Democratic than Republican votes, prompting criticism from members of his right flank.
Now some lawmakers are doubting Johnson has the votes to remain speaker should Republicans hold on to their House majority next year.
“I think it would take Trump’s endorsement to do that,” said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who initiated a failed attempt to oust Johnson in May. “So, I expect Mike to spend a lot of time with Trump.”
The criticism comes after the short-term spending bill passed in a 341-82 vote, with all “no” votes cast by Republicans. The bill did receive a majority of GOP votes, one litmus test within his conference for whether legislation should be brought to the floor.
But Johnson faces a razor-thin majority that is expected to be about as small if Republicans retain control in November, and even marginal opposition can block his candidacy.
Although the latest funding bill has not sparked an effort to remove Johnson, ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted for similarly relying on Democrats to pass a continuing resolution. In this latest episode, hard-liners wanted a proof-of-citizenship voting bill attached to an extension in government funding, but Johnson, initially supportive of the idea, backed away once a vote on it failed on the House floor.
“To need liberal Democrat support on anything is a move back,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), who voted against the funding bill, told the Washington Examiner.
Still, Norman said, it’s “too early” to know what it could mean for the future of Johnson’s leadership, a sentiment echoed by other lawmakers.
Johnson has already survived one attempt to remove him from the speakership over a series of must-pass bills he negotiated with the Democrats. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) joined with Massie to initiate the vote at the time.
But Johnson, relying on the goodwill of House Democrats and the backing of former President Donald Trump, survived easily. Before that, it took McCarthy 14 rounds to become speaker at the beginning of the current Congress. He was removed from his perch less than a year later.
“Is this a favorite thing to talk about? I have no idea,” Greene said on Wednesday. “I’ll tell you straight up: People are sick and tired of the drama here in this place and the drama it puts in their lives, and that’s how I feel and I’m going home.”
Other Republicans rejected the idea that Johnson’s speakership was in trouble over the funding bill’s passage.
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“He’s going to do the right thing, and I don’t think you get punished in the end for doing the right thing,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said ahead of the vote. “So I think he’ll be fine.”
The speaker’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment by the Washington Examiner.
