House conservatives are planning to mount a symbolic challenger to Speaker Mike Johnson during Wednesday’s internal leadership election, according to two people familiar with the effort.
Conservatives have been discussing how to signal their frustration with Johnson for days, deliberations POLITICO first reported. They have talked about having a lawmaker actually run against the Louisiana Republican for the speakership nomination in the private vote Wednesday, as well as trying to vote against him or vote present.
The hardliners haven’t finalized a name yet, but one person familiar with the discussion, granted anonymity to discuss private conversations, said they expect Johnson to get a challenger on Wednesday. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, seemed to confirm that idea, remarking that it “seems likely” Johnson will have a challenger tomorrow.
“It seems pretty likely,” Roy added.
Roy did not give a name for who he expects to challenge Johnson and no one has publicly jumped into the race.
Regardless, Johnson is expected to easily reach the simple majority threshold to become his party’s speaker nominee on Wednesday. But a challenger would prevent him from winning the nomination by a voice vote, meaning Johnson and his supporters could not characterize it as a unanimous vote in his favor.
Counted ballots also mean lawmakers will get a sense of the size of Johnson’s opposition headed into a tougher speaker vote on Jan. 3, when he will need near-unanimity to keep the gavel. Republicans are expected to keep the House majority, but only narrowly.
Conservatives are frustrated with Johnson over his handling of legislative fights on Ukraine aid and government funding, but the opposition also has a practical motivation. They want concessions from Johnson on the House rules, including keeping the threshold for triggering a vote to oust the speaker at one member.
“I have a responsibility to protect my constituents’ ability to have a voice, make sure that the rules are structured such that we have a voice, continue to evolve the House in that direction and not to devolve the House back into its native swamp position. And so, I want to see what’s going to happen with the rules,” Roy said.
The decision by conservatives to run someone against Johnson was first reported by The Hill.
