A power struggle emerges in the House of Representatives as conservatives float potential replacements for Speaker Mike Johnson.
According to Fox News, House GOP critics are considering House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, and Rep. Byron Donalds as possible alternatives to Johnson's leadership due to disagreements over his government funding strategy.
The brewing conflict stems from Johnson's handling of the 1,547-page continuing resolution (CR) released Tuesday evening. Conservative lawmakers express strong opposition to the bill's contents, particularly criticizing the inclusion of unrelated policy riders and additional provisions beyond basic government funding measures.
The CR includes provisions for healthcare, ethanol fuel, disaster aid funding exceeding $100 billion, support for rebuilding Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, and the first congressional pay raise since 2009.
House Republicans find themselves deeply divided over Johnson's approach to averting a partial government shutdown. The CR, which extends government funding through March 14, has drawn fierce criticism from GOP hardliners who advocate for a "clean" funding extension without additional policy measures.
Multiple Republican lawmakers have indicated that Johnson's leadership position could face serious challenges during the January 3 House-wide speaker vote.
A House Republican, speaking anonymously, revealed the growing dissent within the party. The situation has become so contentious that some members are already considering their options regarding Johnson's leadership. Rep. Ralph Norman directly addressed the potential consequences of Johnson's decisions.
Representative Mike Johnson dismissed concerns about his position, as quoted:
I'm not worried about the speaker vote. We're governing. Everybody knows we have difficult circumstances. We're doing the very best we can under those circumstances.
The response from potential challengers has been swift and defensive. A spokesperson for Emmer emphasized his support for Johnson and commitment to his current role. Similarly, Donalds's team indicated no current interest in leadership changes. Jordan's camp explicitly stated his lack of interest in challenging Johnson's position.
The situation has attracted attention from influential conservatives outside Congress. Both Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have publicly criticized the spending bill. Musk expressed his disapproval on social media platform X:
Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!
Johnson and his supporters maintain that the CR represents the best possible outcome, given their limited control of government. They argue that Republicans will be better positioned to handle federal funding when the CR expires, coinciding with the beginning of Trump's term.
The current leadership crisis puts Speaker Mike Johnson in a precarious position as he navigates the complex dynamics of House Republican politics. While Johnson maintains President-elect Trump's backing, which could help shield him from some criticism, the growing conservative rebellion over the government funding plan threatens his speakership.
The situation mirrors the tumultuous period following former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's removal, which led to a three-week leadership battle before Johnson's selection. Despite receiving unanimous Republican support for his speakership candidacy last month, Johnson now faces the challenge of maintaining party unity while pushing forward with controversial legislation.
