House Republicans are in chaos ahead of a critical vote today on whether to keep Speaker Mike Johnson in power and their internal drama could delay Donald Trump‘s election victory from getting certified on time.
Because Republicans will hold a razor-thin majority in the new 119th Congress – 219 to 215 – only a few dissatisfied GOP members could derail the speaker’s reelection chances.
As it stands, Johnson, 52, can only afford to lose one Republican vote and still get reelected.
At least one GOP rebel – Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. – is already planing to vote against him with around a dozen members on the fence.
If another Republican joins Massie it will paralyze the House, which requires a speaker to do even the most basic functions.
Two years ago at the beginning of the last Congress, Republicans got off to an embarrassing start after taking five days and 15 rounds to elect former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Should the speaker elections Friday go on as long as they did for McCarthy, the engine of Congress may stall again, this time just before Donald Trump’s election certification planned for Monday, January 6.
Should this happen, Congress may not be able to certify the 2024 election results on time, posing unexpected pain and delay the constitutionally-mandated process.
These bold GOP discontents have declared reservations about Johnson’s leadership, with at least one claiming he is an absolute ‘No’.
Now, the speaker has to defend his tiny margin to maintain his grasp on the gavel of power, and get Trump in office.
‘We’ll have maybe one no vote,’ Johnson confidently proclaimed during an interview with Fox Business Thursday evening.
‘I think we get it done on the first round,’ he continued. ‘Certainly hopeful for that.’
Trump offered him another public display of support on Friday morning, wishing him ‘good luck today.’
‘Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support,’ Trump said 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!’
