Far-Right Republicans Are Already Talking About Ousting Mike Johnson

Marjorie Taylor Greene says replacing the speaker is “absolutely on the table,” but several of his colleagues maintain his job is safe for now

It’s June 2023, and the Republican speaker of the House is struggling to appease the hard-line members of his conference, who are angry that he reached a bipartisan deal on government spending levels. A faction of conservatives sink a procedural vote in a rebuke to party leadership.

It’s October 2023, and the Republican speaker of the House is facing an internal revolt from members of his own party furious that he forced passage of a short-term government funding measure to avert a shutdown. Eight GOP representatives, some of them with a personal grudge against the speaker, join all House Democrats in ousting Kevin McCarthy from the post; after three weeks and much intraparty agita, little-known Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson ascends to the position.

It’s January 2024, and the Republican speaker of the House is struggling to appease the hard-line members of his conference, who are angry that he has reached a bipartisan deal on government spending levels. On Wednesday, a faction of conservatives sank a procedural vote in a rebuke to party leadership.