House Speaker Mike Johnson got a boost from President-elect Trump Friday as he faces a tricky vote for reelection in the narrowly divided Congress.
Trump, the undisputed Republican leader, wished Johnson “good luck” ahead of the tight vote in which he needed to win nearly every single GOP lawmaker and overcome lingering opposition from far right-wingers.
“Speaker Mike Johnson (is) a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party.”
Johnson struck a hopeful note as reporters asked him if he expects to win the gavel on the first ballot.
“I think so,” he said as he walked into the Capitol.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to the media at his office in Washington on Friday. With the support of President-elect Trump, Johnson is working to retain the Speakership in the face of opposition within his own party. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Republicans are expected to hold a 219-215 edge over Democrats in the incoming House, meaning Johnson could only afford to lose one GOP vote to keep the majority he needs to win.
Rep, Tom Massie (R-Kentucky), a right-wing hardliner, has already vowed not to back Johnson. Several other ultra-conservatives have said they are still considering their options.
If Johnson falls short on the first ballot, the voting will continue until he or someone else wins a majority.
All Democrats are expected to vote for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn, at least on the first ballot.
After that there could be some horse-trading where some vote “present” to clear the way for Johnson or some other Republican to win with fewer than 218 votes.
Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz is another wild card because she has said she will no longer caucus with the GOP amid spending disputes.
Republicans are in a tight spot because of their unexpectedly anemic showing in House races during the recent election, when they underperformed Trump’s popular vote and electoral college wins.
They won 220 seats compared to 215 for Democrats, who pulled back three seats in New York that had flipped to the GOP in the previous midterms. But ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) resigned his seat in November in a failed bid to become Trump’s attorney general and has said he will not return for the coming Congress.
Assuming Gaetz keeps his word and Massie votes against Johnson, that would leave the speaker needing the votes of the remaining 217 other Republicans, plus Spartz, to win the gavel if Democrats as expected all show up and vote against him.
Right-wing Republicans are angry at Johnson because he regularly cut deals with Democrats to fund the government and avert shutdowns, and also agreed to push forward with defense aid to embattled Ukraine.
But there is no obvious alternative to the affable Louisiana lawmaker, especially since he has Trump in his corner for now.
Trump wants the House Speaker drama done and dusted by Monday when Congress acts on Jan. 6 to certify his election win, a date that is set by the Constitution.