When Congress comes back in session, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will likely be faced with a growing revolt from his caucus as he tries to advance legislation that is deeply unpopular with right-wing members of his own party.
According to a report from Politico, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has been using the recess to stir up colleagues and set the stage for forcing Johnson out in the same manner that led to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to be ousted, which then led to his retirement from office.
The report goes on to note that Johnson has been privately complaining about the demands of the job, leading some allies to believe he'd be happy to step down.
"Speaker Mike Johnson would like Washington to believe he’s playing a meticulous game of chess as he prepares to pass Ukraine aid while fending off a right-wing revolt," writes Politico. "He might have instead played himself into checkmate. Johnson’s determination to act on Ukraine is putting him on a collision course with his conference’s hard-liners, multiple Republicans tell us — and Greene’s removal push could easily grow legs."
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According to one GOP caucus member, when Greene first threatened to oust Johnson, he could have called her bluff and put it to a vote, but that time has passed. Now, however, "every day that it gets kicked down the road, the chance of it happening becomes more real.”
"Even if Johnson somehow manages to hold on— and that’s a big 'if' — there are already whispers in House GOP circles that he’s not long for the role of senior-most Republican," the publication writes. "Many Republicans privately concede that they’re unlikely to keep the House this fall. And if they don’t, there will be pressure on Johnson to step aside from leadership completely, as has happened to GOP speakers who have lost the majority since the 1950s."
The report goes on to document Johnson's personal displeasure with the job.
"Some are also privately asking if Johnson even wants the job anymore. In private conversations in recent weeks, he’s expressed his exhaustion and complained about a lack of sleep and the demands of frequent traveling. When s--t hits the fan, members say, he’ll have some soul-searching to do."
You can read more here.
