Is Mike Johnson Going to Lose His Speaker Gig, Kevin McCarthy Style? - Vanity Fair

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“He should have never been hired.”

January 11, 2024

WASHINGTON DC OCTOBER 26 U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson gives a brief statement to reporters about the mass...

Back in October—as in just three months ago—House Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy from his gig as Speaker, and replaced him with Mike Johnson after several very embarrassing weeks. So the idea that the same group of lawmakers would turn around and give their new Speaker the heave-ho two seconds after giving him the job would seem, to most people, insane. But apparently, the far right has no issue with that!

On Wednesday, 13 ultraconservatives tanked an attempt by Johnson to avert a government shutdown, blocking a procedural step in protest of a deal the Speaker struck with Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer for $1.66 trillion in spending this year. Leaving a conference meeting, Representative Warren Davidson told reporters, “I’m not going to sit in there and listen to that drivel because [Johnson] has no plans to do anything except surrender.” Asked if Johnson should be removed from his leadership role, Davidson responded, “He should have never been hired.” And it would seem he’s not the only one who feels that way.

Earlier in the week, Representative Chip Roy refused to confirm that Johnson’s job is safe:

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Later, he said firing Johnson was “on the table.” On Thursday, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene confirmed the Speaker risks losing his job.

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Speaking to CNN, Rep. Tim Burchett said “If Speaker Johnson doesn't deliver on the conservative credentials he promised us, then I suspect we will be looking for a new Speaker.”

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Still, not everyone is jazzed about the idea of ousting a second Speaker in less than four months. Commenting on the prospect of his colleagues doing so, Representative Don Bacon said Thursday, “That’s about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. It would be crazy.”