The House Republican caucus kicked off the 119th U.S. Congress with what is becoming a regular source of drama: a contentious speaker election.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) failed to win reelection as House Speaker in the first ballot cast by representatives to determine who will lead the lower chamber in the next congressional cycle. The incoming Republican majorities first attempts to elect an speaker were foiled by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), and Keith Self (R-Texas), who voted for Reps. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and Bryon Donalds (R-Fla.), respectively.
Ahead of the vote, Johnson faced a paper-thin margin to secure his reelection, any two no-votes (or one no and two abstentions) would tank the ballot.
Massie publicly insisted he was voting “no” on Johnson ahead of the first ballot, while several Republicans would not commit to voting for him. A larger contingent of GOP members have been publicly critical of Johnson over the course of his 14-month tenure in the position.
When asked on Friday what it would mean if Republicans can’t elect Johnson on the first ballot, Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) told CNN: “That we’re not ready to govern. The people of America have given us this opportunity and we’re not prepared for it.”
Johnson does have Trump behind him, though. The president-elect has long backed Johnson’s position as GOP House leader. Las week, the president-elect reiterated his support for the speaker after Republicans — led by billionaire Elon Musk — revolted against a proposed funding package negotiated by Johnson.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man,” Trump wrote. “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN.”
The relationship between the two men seems to remain positive. On Friday, Trump wished Johnson the best in the vote. “Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support,” he wrote on Truth Social. “A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!! – A BIG AFFIRMATION, INDEED. MAGA!”
Johnson is hoping the endorsement from Trump will help him over the finish line, telling Fox News that Republicans “cannot afford any palace drama.” But the opposition to Johnson’s leadership is based less on his relationship with Trump, and more with GOP rancor over messy funding battles throughout the course of his tenure, and accusations that Johnson frequently capitulates to Democratic appropriations demands.
“For months Democrats ignored the fact that Joe Biden was a potato,” Massie wrote on X last week. “They convinced themselves that keeping him around was the pragmatic way to win the day. Too late did they admit the emperor had no clothes. Republicans are doing the same thing by keeping Speaker Mike Johnson.”
On Thursday, Rep. Massie told One America News that “you can pull all my finger nails out, you can shove bamboo up in them, you can start cutting off my fingers, I am not voting for Mike Johnson.” In a separate post on X, Massie argued that the caucus has “seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget.”
Johnson has vowed to dig in through numerous ballots in order to retain the gavel. Considering the apparent absence of anyone who could challenge him, he may be likely to wear his detractors down and lead House Republicans under Trump’s second term in office. Regardless, the House GOP has kicked off 2025 by continuing its tradition of dysfunction.