Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has threatened to call to a vote a vacation of post for House Speaker Mike Johnson, however the event has yet to pass. (Getty Images)
No, things haven’t gone well at all for House Republicans since they won back the majority in the 2022 fall midterms. The House consumed five days and 15 rounds just to elect former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in early January 2023. And it only took House GOPers nine months to remove McCarthy. That prompted a 22-day interregnum in the House. It paralyzed the institution from doing anything until it finally elected Johnson as McCarthy’s successor.
Rank-and-file Republicans are exhausted by the daily internecine drama surrounding Johnson and Greene. Moreover, most House Republicans concede they’ve had it with Greene and don’t want to fuel her enterprises.
"We don't like it. We'd be angry about it because all it does is weaken all of us," said Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. "Tactically and strategically, it's not smart."
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., had signed on to Greene’s gambit to vacate the speakership of Johnson. But Gosar is suspect about the timing.
"I don’t think it’s going to happen this week," said Gosar. "I hope it doesn’t happen this week. So I’ll leave it at that."
Yours truly asked Johnson about the longstanding threat by Greene.
REPUBLICANS BELIEVE COLLEGE CAMPUS CHAOS WORKS IN THEIR FAVOR
"It’s not good for the country, the conference or the cause," replied Johnson.
The fact that Democratic leaders announced they would try to help Johnson out via a parliamentary maneuver to remove him seemed to pour accelerant on the embers of the House Republican Conference.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she supported the move by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to bring in the Democratic cavalry for Johnson.
"I think he’s very much in touch with our caucus," replied Pelosi.
I then asked Pelosi what this means about Johnson if he must lean on the minority to cling to his job.
"He doesn’t have to turn to the minority for support," replied Pelosi. "The minority party is saying we support the integrity of the House of Representatives and will not let it be littered by nonsense."
A cynic might point out that Democrats never came to the rescue of McCarthy. But Democrats contend that McCarthy went back on a major spending agreement and spoke derisively of the other party. Yes, there are chasms between Democrats and Johnson. But Democrats at least believe they got what they need from Johnson — a bill to fund Ukraine and an honest broker when it comes to spending deals.
However, in a Machiavellian twist, did Democrats actually stoke more chaos in the Republican Conference by saying they would back Johnson? Hence, the reason Greene is now meeting with Johnson on a regular basis? Even if that’s not the intent, the outcome is hard to argue with. There’s turmoil among House Republicans now.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol Building during a vote on legislation pertaining to TikTok March 13, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
As demonstrated in January 2023, the House is required to vote. And vote. And vote – until it elects a speaker. No other business. Period. And to reiterate, it cannot even swear in the members.
Under the Constitution, the new Congress, tapping a speaker and swearing in members must start at noon Jan., 3, 2023.
It took five days to elect McCarthy, 22 days to elect Johnson.
The House had time to spare in January 2023. It was coming off a midterm election. It certainly had time last fall.
However, time will not be a luxury on Jan. 3, 2025, when the 119th Congress convenes.
That’s because the House is supposed to certify the Electoral College Jan. 6.
Congress did not conclude certifying the electoral votes for the 2020 election until the wee hours of Jan. 7, after the riot at the Capitol.
So what happens if the House is deadlocked over electing a speaker and can’t conduct a Joint Session of Congress to certify the Electoral College?
This is the issue that may be ahead if Republicans hold the House and struggle to elect a Speaker.
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And that’s why the current troubles vexing Mike Johnson now could be geometric in scope come January.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
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