WASHINGTON — The situation in the House of Representatives has taken a notable turn, but not in the way many anticipated.
House Speaker Mike Johnson managed to avoid the protracted struggle that befell his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, when he was elected; however, this rapid ascent was not unifying. The anxiety of the day revealed that Johnson relies on shaky support from hard-line conservatives who voted for him temporarily but are ready to oust him, reminiscent of McCarthy’s experience, if their expectations are not met.
Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina who initially opposed Johnson, raised concerns, questioning, “Is he going to fight?” Republicans are celebrating their newfound control of Washington, particularly with President Trump in the mix. Nevertheless, the discord that characterized the House over the past two years still lingers, with even higher stakes as Republicans aim to fulfill Trump’s objectives.
As Congress commenced its new session, the potential for internal conflict was apparent. House Republicans exchanged barbs on television and engaged in disputes on the House floor, leaving the freshly appointed speaker looking anxious. Even after Johnson’s election, discussions among some GOP lawmakers about the conditions that might lead to his dismissal were openly taking place.
For a period, the atmosphere mirrored the contentiousness seen during the speakership voting two years ago, as some hardliners hesitated to support Johnson. They animatedly bargained on the House floor until, after an hour fraught with uncertainty and negotiations—during which Trump called in to express his backing—two of the three Republicans who initially refused him changed their votes, ultimately helping him secure the necessary majority.
According to Norman, it wasn’t only Trump’s endorsement that swayed opinions, but Johnson’s resolute commitment during private discussions to “fight for everything going forward.” Nonetheless, the reality of his leadership position is anything but simple.
Johnson faces the daunting challenge of leading a Republican majority that may be even narrower than in previous sessions—potentially dropping to a mere single vote, especially with some members poised to move into Trump’s administration. Last year’s slim majority, paired with persistent resistance from the party’s right wing, often compelled Johnson to seek Democratic backing for significant legislative measures.
In his inaugural speech following the vote, Johnson emphasized that Republicans were empowered by a collective demand for change among the American populace, stating his intention to push for an end to the status quo in Washington. Rep. Chip Roy from Texas, a vocal critic of Johnson, remarked cautiously that they would give him an opportunity to prove himself but insisted that “there’s no room for any excuses now.”
Compounding these challenges, even if Johnson successfully consolidates support among House Republicans, he must still navigate a Senate landscape that requires some Democratic cooperation for most legislation to progress, given the filibuster rules needing at least 60 Senate votes to advance most bills. Currently, Republicans hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune aptly noted that Johnson is in for quite a tough task. In a bid to ease one of the threats to his leadership, Republican leaders made it more challenging to remove the speaker via a motion to vacate; such a motion will now require at least nine members from the majority party instead of just one. This change elicited protests from Democrats, who claimed it shielded the speaker from bipartisan accountability.
However, right after Johnson secured the support he needed, the House Freedom Caucus released a stark letter signed by eleven members, demanding ambitious policy initiatives from Johnson. These included enacting permanent border security measures, implementing significant federal spending cuts, and banning members of Congress from trading stocks. Members asserted that Johnson must prove effective in carrying out Trump’s bold agenda.
Conservatives are also pressing for commitments to tackle the federal deficit and to redistribute authority from the speaker’s office, aiming to provide rank-and-file members with more influence over legislative content. While fulfilling these commitments may be challenging, Johnson expressed his dedication to collaborating closely with Freedom Caucus members on crafting legislation.
Rep. Byron Donalds from Florida, a member of the caucus, conveyed that historically, speakers don’t maintain their roles for long and added that Johnson’s success hinges on a member-driven process. He cautioned if this approach falters, Johnson’s tenure could be in jeopardy.
Nine conservative members hesitated to back Johnson during the vote, either by abstaining or voting for someone else, signaling a potentially serious warning about the continued existence of a motion to vacate the speakership. Such concerns were openly mentioned to Johnson during discussions surrounding the vote, with Norman recounting that Johnson responded assertively, stating, “If I don’t perform like I say I’m going to perform and push the things that you’re saying, put me out. I never thought I would have this job anyway.”
