Johnson Determined to Continue as House Speaker Amid Growing Dissent from MAGA Congresswomen
House Speaker Mike Johnson has firmly declared his intention to seek re-election as leader of the House in the next Congress, despite facing increasing criticism from several prominent Republican women aligned with the MAGA movement. On Wednesday, when CNN correspondent Manu Raju asked Johnson if he would run again for the speakership, Johnson responded with a confident “Absolutely,” signaling his determination to maintain his leadership position despite the growing dissent within his party’s ranks.
The challenge to Johnson’s leadership became more visible when Representative Elise Stefanik, a close Trump ally, told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that Johnson was losing his grip on the Republican party. In a particularly damaging assessment, Stefanik claimed that Johnson “certainly wouldn’t have the votes to be speaker if there was a roll-call vote tomorrow,” adding that “the majority of Republicans would vote for new leadership” because dissatisfaction with his leadership is “that widespread.” These comments from a high-profile Republican congresswoman who has aligned herself closely with President Donald Trump represent a significant threat to Johnson’s authority and suggest deeper fractures within the Republican conference than previously acknowledged.
Johnson faces additional criticism from other MAGA-aligned congresswomen. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene told The Washington Post in October that Johnson had “marginalized” Republican women, highlighting gender-based tensions within the party. Greene’s relationship with Republican leadership has deteriorated to the point that she announced plans to resign from Congress in January after falling out with the president. This public break between Greene and party leadership further illustrates the internal divisions Johnson must navigate if he hopes to maintain his position as Speaker.
The dissent among MAGA-aligned women in Congress extends beyond personal criticisms to policy challenges that undermine Johnson’s authority. Representative Anna Paulina Luna recently launched a discharge petition designed to bypass Johnson’s leadership and force a floor vote on a congressional stock trading ban. Luna expressed her frustration publicly, writing on social media platform X: “I’m not nervous. I’m pissed. Either which way I’m all ears for a solution. The insider trading is really bad and even the speaker knows it.” While Luna tempered her criticism slightly by adding “I like Mike. Mike is a good guy. I hope he backs me on this one,” her decision to circumvent normal legislative channels controlled by the Speaker represents a direct challenge to Johnson’s leadership and ability to control his caucus.
The timing of these challenges is particularly significant as Republicans prepare for the upcoming Congress following President Trump’s election victory. Johnson’s ability to maintain control of the speakership will depend on his capacity to unite diverse factions within the Republican party, including the influential MAGA wing that has shown increasing willingness to challenge his authority. The dissent from Stefanik is especially noteworthy given her close alignment with Trump and her rising profile within the party. If Johnson cannot secure support from Trump allies, his path to retaining the speakership becomes considerably more difficult.
Despite these mounting challenges, Johnson appears determined to fight for his position. His one-word affirmation that he will seek re-election as Speaker suggests confidence in his ability to overcome the current dissent and secure the votes needed when the new Congress convenes. However, the public nature of the criticisms from Stefanik, Greene, and Luna indicates that Johnson faces a significant struggle to unite his party behind his leadership. The coming weeks will likely reveal whether Johnson can address the concerns of MAGA-aligned members while maintaining the broader coalition necessary to lead the House effectively in the next Congress.
