Rep. Don Bacon Frustrated Over GOP’s Holdouts on House Speaker Mike Johnson

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) voiced his frustration on Thursday regarding certain GOP members who have yet to back House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to remain in his role.

Speaking during an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill” with anchor Blake Burman, Bacon expressed discontent with the dissenters within the party, particularly those undermining Johnson's leadership.

“We find it very irritating,” Bacon said, addressing the reluctance of some hardline conservatives to support Johnson.

“It irritates us that these people undermine our leadership and the vast majority of us who wanna get things done. But you’ve got to optimize, you’ve got to find consensus,” he continued.

The frustration stems from a small faction of House conservatives demanding significant and often vague commitments from Johnson before agreeing to support him in Friday’s critical vote for Speaker.

One such holdout is Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), a former chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Perry has been vocal about his hesitations, stating last week on Fox Business that he remains undecided about his Speaker vote.

“Right now, I think that Mike has done an admirable job under tough conditions, but I’m going to keep my options open. I want to have a conversation with Mike,” Perry said, highlighting his concerns over specific commitments Johnson has yet to address.

Johnson, who has led the House with a slim Republican majority, continues to garner strong support from moderates like Bacon, who commended his efforts amid challenging circumstances.

During his appearance on NewsNation, Bacon praised Johnson, describing him as “a good man” and emphasizing his character. “He’s honest, a man of faith. I think he’s done the very best he can with a very small majority,” Bacon said, reaffirming his belief in Johnson’s capability to lead.

Meanwhile, another key holdout, Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), remains undecided ahead of the Friday vote.

Speaking to reporters at the Capitol on Thursday, Spartz shared that she recently met with Johnson and had a productive conversation. However, she stopped short of declaring her support, saying, “I will make [the] decision tomorrow.”

The uncertainty surrounding Spartz’s and Perry’s votes adds pressure to Friday’s proceedings, which could significantly impact Johnson’s position as Speaker.

With the GOP holding only a slim majority in the House, every vote is crucial, and the dissent within the party highlights ongoing tensions between its factions.

Johnson, who was elected Speaker in October after weeks of internal Republican infighting following Kevin McCarthy’s ouster, has faced resistance from the more conservative members of the caucus.

These members have criticized Johnson’s leadership style and demanded more concrete actions on key conservative priorities, such as spending cuts and addressing border security.

Despite the holdouts, Johnson has received widespread praise from many Republicans for his efforts to unify the caucus and navigate complex legislative challenges.

His allies argue that Johnson has been successful in advancing the party’s agenda, including passing critical appropriations bills and managing budget negotiations to prevent a government shutdown.

However, the lingering dissent reveals the deep divisions within the GOP, with some conservatives pushing for a more aggressive approach to confront Democrats and President Biden’s administration.

For Johnson, Friday’s vote represents another test of his leadership and his ability to bring the party together.

Bacon’s criticism underscores the frustration among many Republicans who believe the internal conflicts are stalling progress on important legislative priorities.

“We need to focus on delivering results for the American people,” Bacon said. “This infighting doesn’t help anyone, and it undermines our ability to govern effectively.”

As the vote looms, Johnson’s supporters remain hopeful that the holdouts will come around and recognize the importance of unity within the party.

However, the outcome remains uncertain, with Johnson needing to navigate delicate negotiations to secure the necessary support to remain Speaker.