Speaker Mike Johnson picked up a key endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump in his bid to serve another term.
“He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement,” Trump wrote in a Monday social media post.
Trump’s endorsement comes as Johnson faced some resistance from Hill conservatives ahead of Friday’s vote, but the president-elect’s backing could stifle other opposition. The latest hurdle to Johnson’s speakership came Monday morning before Trump’s post, with Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) dropping a new list of demands to win her vote.
Spartz said in a statement she wanted the next speaker to “COMMIT PUBLICLY” to several demands related to fiscal conservatism, including spending offsets for the expected reconciliation bills and spending audits.
Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Spartz’s demands. The slim GOP majority in the House for Friday’s vote means that Johnson can only afford to lose two Republican votes. Democrats are expected to universally oppose Johnson, and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has already signaled his opposition.
Playbook also reported Monday morning that Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is conducting a temperature check to determine the viability of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and other possible candidates if Johnson is unable to secure another term with the speaker’s gavel.
Jordan’s bid for the speakership after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ouster was thwarted after roughly 20 House Republicans opposed him. Various other Republican members were put forward as candidates in that vote, such as Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Tom Emmer (R-Minn.)
Other Hill Republicans have been cautioning against another drawn-out speaker fight, which could have ramifications for Congress’ duty of counting electoral votes on Jan. 6. Purple-district Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), said Sunday on ABC News that his colleagues were “playing with fire” by considering the possibility of a new speaker.
