Home Speaker Mike Johnson acquired a lift from President-elect Trump Friday as he faces a tough vote for reelection within the narrowly divided Congress.
Trump, the undisputed Republican chief, wished Johnson “good luck” forward of the tight vote during which he wanted to win practically each 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 observe as reporters requested him if he expects to win the gavel on the primary poll.
“I think so,” he stated as he walked into the Capitol.
Win McNamee/Getty Photos
Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson speaks to the media at his workplace in Washington on Friday. With the help of President-elect Trump, Johnson is working to retain the Speakership within the face of opposition inside his personal celebration. (Picture by Win McNamee/Getty Photos)
Republicans are anticipated to carry a 219-215 edge over Democrats within the incoming Home, that means Johnson may solely afford to lose one GOP vote to maintain the bulk he must win.
Rep, Tom Massie (R-Kentucky), a right-wing hardliner, has already vowed to not again Johnson. A number of different ultra-conservatives have stated they’re nonetheless contemplating their choices.
If Johnson falls brief on the primary poll, the voting will proceed till he or another person wins a majority.
All Democrats are anticipated to vote for Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn, a minimum of on the primary poll.
After that there could possibly be some horse-trading the place some vote “present” to clear the way in which for Johnson or another Republican to win with fewer than 218 votes.
Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz is one other wild card as a result of she has stated she’s going to now not caucus with the GOP amid spending disputes.
Republicans are in a good spot due to their unexpectedly anemic exhibiting in Home races through the current election, once they underperformed Trump’s common vote and electoral school wins.
They received 220 seats in comparison with 215 for Democrats, who pulled again three seats in New York that had flipped to the GOP within the earlier midterms. However ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) resigned his seat in November in a failed bid to develop into Trump’s lawyer common and has stated he is not going to return for the approaching Congress.
Assuming Gaetz retains his phrase and Massie votes towards Johnson, that would go away the speaker needing the votes of the remaining 217 different Republicans, plus Spartz, to win the gavel if Democrats as anticipated all present up and vote towards him.
Proper-wing Republicans are indignant at Johnson as a result of he usually minimize offers with Democrats to fund the federal government and avert shutdowns, and in addition agreed to push ahead with protection support to embattled Ukraine.
However there is no such thing as a apparent different to the affable Louisiana lawmaker, particularly since he has Trump in his nook for now.
Trump needs the Home Speaker drama executed and dusted by Monday when Congress acts on Jan. 6 to certify his election win, a date that’s set by the Structure.
