Conservative critics of Speaker Mike Johnson are warning that he has an uphill battle to winning back their support in time for House Republicans’ leadership elections at the end of the year. Despite winning a strongly unanimous House GOP vote in October, Johnson is facing opposition from a vocal group of lawmakers on his right flank who are calling for his immediate removal for working across party lines on critical legislation. While the vast majority of House Republicans have not joined in the push for removal, those critical of Johnson feel that he has failed to deliver on conservative priorities such as border security and cutting federal spending.
Some Republican lawmakers, such as Rep. Bob Good, have expressed doubts about Johnson’s ability to lead effectively and stand up for conservative policies. Good, who voted to oust ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year, suggests that Johnson will need to demonstrate more effectiveness in advancing Republican policy initiatives and cutting spending if he wants to earn their support. Others, like Rep. Chip Roy, have also raised concerns about Johnson’s track record and the need for strong leadership heading into the upcoming elections. While not all Republicans are calling for Johnson’s immediate removal, many feel that he will need to address their concerns and show more commitment to conservative principles in order to earn their backing.
Johnson and Congressional appropriators are preparing for upcoming budget battles while facing limitations imposed by last year’s Fiscal Responsibility Act, which raised the debt limit and set terms for shaping future funding priorities. Despite this, Johnson’s spokesperson has asserted that he remains committed to advancing conservative priorities and growing the Republican majority in November. As the party leadership races approach, Johnson may need to secure unanimous support behind closed doors to avoid the kind of dissent that Speaker McCarthy faced last year.
Republican lawmakers such as Rep. Ralph Norman and Rep. Tim Burchett are looking for clear plans and commitments from Johnson in areas such as fiscal responsibility and border security before committing their support for his leadership. Norman, a McCarthy holdout, questions whether Johnson is willing to take a strong negotiating stance on these issues. Burchett, who previously voted to oust McCarthy, is open to discussion but wants to see concrete plans for fiscal responsibility and border security before lending his support. Rep. Chip Roy, however, is less optimistic about the likelihood of key policy wins under Johnson’s leadership in the current environment.
As Johnson heads into the end-of-year spending fight, he will need to address the concerns and demands of conservative critics within his party in order to secure their support for his leadership going forward. The upcoming leadership elections will be a crucial test for Johnson as he works to regain the trust and backing of House Republicans. Despite facing challenges and opposition from some within his party, Johnson remains committed to governing and advancing conservative priorities while working towards expanding the Republican majority in November.
