If Republicans cannot elect a Speaker, Senator Chuck Grassley could be the next President.
The Next Speaker
If no one quickly wins the gavel, certification of President-elect Trump’s victory could be delayed. Rules then would make Senator Chuck Grassley the president.
That is possible, but highly unlikely in practice, explained below.
However, at least one Republican is a confirmed no for Johnson. A second no would do Johnson in.
How Mike Johnson Could Lose the House Speaker Vote
The Wall Street Journal reports How Mike Johnson Could Lose the House Speaker Vote.
What happens on Jan. 3, and how does the speaker vote work?
Under the Constitution, newly elected and returning House members gather in the Capitol. First they have to elect a speaker, which requires a majority of those who vote for a particular person—abstaining or voting “present” doesn’t count in the calculations. The declared candidate for Republicans, who will hold a narrow majority in the new session, is incumbent Johnson. Democrats back Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.).
If no one receives a majority of votes cast for a named candidate, more ballots will be held until someone wins a majority. When Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) ran for speaker in January 2023, he wasn’t able to secure the gavel until the early hours of the morning on Jan. 7, after four grueling days of voting and 15 ballots.
One Republican—Rep. Thomas Massie (R., Ky.)—has said he would oppose Johnson, and several others have said they are undecided. All it would take to cost Johnson the speakership is for one more House Republican to vote for a different person, assuming all Democrats oppose him. But it is unclear whether any other candidate could win a majority.
It took three weeks of failed votes for other candidates before House Republicans elected Johnson in the fall of 2023.
What happens if no speaker is quickly elected?