House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is facing increasing challenges to being confirmed for another two years of the gavel with a number of Republicans opposed — including one in particular who could be a thorn in the whole party's side.
Johnson can only afford to lose a couple of votes as his incoming House majority as one of the narrowest in U.S. history — and this has already caused concerns that the House could be paralyzed for weeks — as it was last year when Kevin McCarthy was abruptly ejected from the Speakership — and could be forced to delay certifying President-elect Donald Trump's election. The speakership is the House's first vote when it convenes for the new session on January 3.
According to CNN's Haley Talbot, about a dozen House Republicans, including far-right mainstays like Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), and Eli Crane (R-AZ), are refusing to tell reporters how they will vote — and at least one, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), is already a hard no.
But one in particular also appears to be leaning against Johnson: Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), who on Fox and Friends on Monday began issuing demands about legislation and spending that must be committed to for her to back him.
“It will take bold and decisive leadership to reverse this ‘Titanic’ from its catastrophic course and deliver on President Trump’s agenda. WE MUST HAVE A PLAN!” Spartz said in a statement released after that interview.
"This is a daunting situation for Johnson," said Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman on X in response to these developments.
Spartz, a Ukrainian-American lawmaker who has frequently been at the center of drama, including allegations of staff abuse and a chaotic back-and-forth on whether or not she would resign or retire, caused further headaches for GOP leadership earlier this month when she announced she would be refusing committee assignments and would not caucus with the GOP, even as she still identifies as a Republican. It remains unclear exactly how this is going to work or the particulars of her intentions.