Mike Johnson pitched Trump for help on 'neutralizing' toxic MAGA candidate

In an effort to make sure the Republican Party doesn't lose control of the House — and with that, his speakership — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has been working behind the scenes with Donald Trump to quash possible "toxic" GOP candidates, some of whom are ardent boosters of the former president.

According to a report from Politico's Olivia Beavers and Ally Mutnick, Johnson made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago to conspire with Trump to clamp down on the burgeoning candidacies of at least two conservatives who could gather up the nomination but lose the general election.

Key among those whom Johnson wants to be eliminated is controversial J.R. Majewski in Ohio, who in 2022 blew a chance to take what many Republicans believed was a winnable seat.

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According to the Politico report, "Overall, the meeting signaled that Johnson has developed a strategic partnership with the former president, who is again the de facto chief of the Republican Party. Since that meeting, Majewski has indicated he might drop out."

Johnson, the report notes, is still trying to get his arms around leading his fractured caucus, and is increasingly reaching out to Trump as an ally to get members in line.

At the same time, he is also having to walk a fine line with the volatile and unpredictable Trump.

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As for Majewski, "Majewski previously told POLITICO that he has been in contact with Trump’s team amid the push for him to drop out. And while Majewski considered the possibility of exiting the race against Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the involvement of Trump and his team does not yet appear to have worked: Majewski decided against that idea, tweeting in a statement Wednesday morning that he will not 'cower to corruption' of the establishment. But people who have spoken to him say that Majewski has indicated that he may still drop out of the race despite his public remarks. A spokesperson for Majewski reiterated Thursday that he has no plans to."

You can read more here.