Democrats warn Mike Johnson: We won't save you again

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

4 hours ago


House Democrats are sending an early warning signal to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that he shouldn't count on them to rescue him again.

Why it matters: Johnson will have the barest of majorities next year — and he's staring down growing unrest within the Republican conference.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has said he will vote against Johnson's reelection as speaker on Jan. 3, with several other Republicans saying they are undecided.

With a majority as narrow as 219-215, Johnson may only be able to afford to lose one vote.

State of play: Johnson last week abandoned a federal funding package he negotiated with Democrats and introduced a pared-down version with a debt limit extension demanded by President-elect Trump.

House Democrats bitterly accused Johnson of going back on his word and declared themselves a "hell no" on the revised version of the bill.

Johnson eventually succeeded in passing a version of the bill without a debt ceiling increase, but the damage was already done.

Driving the news: At a caucus meeting on Friday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) signaled to his members that relations with Johnson had entered a new, significantly worsened phase.

He pointed to Johnson reversing on the funding deal and letting communications go dark at times during the week, according to three lawmakers and a fourth source present for his remarks.

House Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said that he will not personally ask Democrats to bail out Johnson going forward as they did in May.

Jeffries said Sunday on MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki" there is a "real risk" of Johnson failing to become speaker on Jan. 3, and that "there will be no Democrats available to save him."

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/12/23/mike-johnson-hakeem-jeffries-democrats-save