House Speaker Johnson Faces Challenge for Re-Election Bid

What Happened?

House Speaker Mike Johnson will face a tough challenge Friday as pressure mounts for a re-election bid amid opposition within his Republican party.

Despite receiving an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump, Johnson could still face the same fate as his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, after being ousted in a historic vote.

The move came under current rules by filing a resolution known as a motion to vacate, which allows any House lawmaker to force a vote to expel the speaker.

Johnson was able to secure and hold on to his current position as House Speaker with the support of Democrats who backed him following McCarthy’s vote out in Oct. 2023.

The House would again encounter a similar event should Johnson not earn re-election.

This would also bring immediate disruption to House committees since bills couldn't be introduced and other votes couldn't happen without a speaker in place.

Johnson can reportedly only afford to lose one vote, as Republicans hold a thin majority, 219-215 in the House.

That margin for error became even slimmer after Kentucky representative Thomas Massie declared his intention to vote against Johnson in a social media post on Tuesday.

Massie said, 'Johnson is not up for this task,' suggesting the incumbent speaker did not deserve a second term and would cost the GOP its majority in 2026.

'We want a [House] Speaker who inspires the public and who can make our case in the media, so we can keep the majority for the second half of Trump’s term,' Massie added.

Why it Matters

Some of Johnson's allies have reportedly weighed in on a scenario that a chaotic situation over the gavel on Friday could delay Trump's White House victory.

According to a report, senior Republicans are concerned about what would happen if there is no speaker when Congress is scheduled to certify Trump’s win on Jan. 6.

Congress has reportedly never tried to certify a presidential election without a speaker in place.

'To oppose Johnson now weakens the GOP and strengthens Hakeem Jeffries,' Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska reportedly told CNN. 'It also puts at risk the Electoral College Certification scheduled for 6 Jan.'

The report adds that the House couldn't conduct any official business without a speaker, which presents no clear alternatives without one to certify Trump’s win.

How it Affects You

The House faces bigger tests ahead as they will revisit a Continuing Resolution in March to reach an agreement on a long-term funding plan.

As new leadership under Trump is set to occur this month, congress will have to work collectively to pass many bipartisan measures.

Instead, turmoil among some members surrounding Johnson holding the gavel does not make well for the tough challenges ahead.