House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing mounting dissent from Republicans across the spectrum, from conservative hardliners to senior GOP leaders, amid frustration over his leadership style and stalled legislative agenda.
The unrest comes after Johnson kept the House largely inactive for nearly two months and failed to advance bills with broad Republican support. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a member of Johnson’s leadership team, publicly criticized him this week, calling him “a political novice” and suggesting that most Republicans would back a change in leadership. Some GOP aides pushed back against her comments, arguing Johnson deserves credit for holding his position under difficult circumstances.
Conservative members disrupted Johnson’s agenda by withholding support for a bill on name, likeness, and image rights, which leadership had hoped to bring to the floor on Thursday. Johnson is also confronting an unusual increase in discharge petitions—mechanisms used to force votes on legislation—which signal broader dissatisfaction with his control of the House.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) filed a petition to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks, gaining significant GOP support despite Johnson expressing his belief that members should be allowed to own stock. Meanwhile, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who is stepping down to run for governor, plans to consult with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) about frustrations within the House, including reliance on discharge petitions and Johnson’s handling of Trump-era executive orders.
Observers note that the current challenges echo the internal turmoil that contributed to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s destabilization. While Johnson is not yet facing a formal motion to vacate, the growing public criticism represents a serious test of his authority as speaker.