Mike Johnson Asserts Dominance Over GOP Amid Escalating Conflict with Elise Stefanik

House Speaker Mike Johnson maintains that he has firm control over his Republican colleagues, despite circulating reports suggesting his influence might be weakening. Johnson publicly rejected statements made by Representative Elise Stefanik, who told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that he would lack sufficient backing from his caucus if a speakership vote were held this week.

During an interview with PBS Newshour correspondent Lisa Desjardins on Wednesday, Johnson emphasized that Republicans in Congress remain united behind his leadership. Im not sure how to comment on what Elise is doing or the reasons behind it, but speaking to Republicans in Congress, 99.9 percent are aligned, and we are working together to advance our agenda, he said.

Johnson noted that he had spoken with Stefanik late Tuesday evening to address what he described as a misunderstanding regarding certain facts, including issues tied to the National Defense Authorization Act. Stefanik, for her part, declared a win related to the legislation on Wednesday morning, announcing that a disclosure provision she authored would be incorporated into the bill following discussions with Johnson and former President Donald Trump.

I told her she could have just called me directly from the start instead of taking extra steps, Johnson remarked.

However, Desjardins highlighted that multiple caucus members have voiced dissatisfaction with Johnsons leadership. A vote of no confidence against a House speaker can be initiated with support from just nine members of the majority party. Potential participants in such a vote could include Stefanik, Representative Anna Paulina Luna, who recently defied Johnson by introducing a discharge petition bypassing his guidance on a bipartisan insider trading bill, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who announced plans to leave office in early January.

Author: Ava Mitchell