In a stunning twist on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson has reportedly lost his grip on power — and Democrats are cheering. The embattled Republican leader is now facing mounting calls for replacement after refusing to bring the House back into session amid the ongoing government shutdown, a move critics say has left the GOP divided and vulnerable.
Democrat Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona gloated Thursday on CNN, claiming Johnson’s days as Speaker are numbered. “Johnson sent his team home — not just to pressure Democrats, but to avoid backlash from his own party,” Gallego said. “He’s barely holding on and will likely lose the Speakership next year.”
Johnson, who earned strong support from President Donald Trump, has faced resistance from a small group of conservative holdouts but largely held the Republican line through intense battles with the Biden-backed Senate. Earlier this year, he won his second term as Speaker after a tight vote, solidifying his status as Trump’s trusted ally in Congress.
Now, however, the shutdown showdown is testing his leadership like never before. Outspoken conservative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted Johnson this week for failing to take decisive action to reopen the government and for remaining silent on the fight over Affordable Care Act subsidies — a flashpoint issue for both parties.
“He needs to bring the House back in session immediately,” Greene warned. “Any serious Speaker would rally his members around a plan. Leadership means taking action, not hiding behind committees.”
Democrats, meanwhile, are blocking stopgap funding measures in the Senate to push Republicans into backing an extension of ObamaCare subsidies before open enrollment begins November 1. Conservative leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), have rejected the move as political blackmail.
“This is not a negotiation — it’s extortion,” one GOP strategist said. “Democrats are weaponizing a shutdown to expand ObamaCare at taxpayer expense.”
Gallego, however, blamed Johnson and Thune for failing to act. “It’s not just about the shutdown — they didn’t even bring this up to their members. They have no plan,” he told CNN.
As the political firestorm grows, conservatives warn that Democrats are exploiting the situation to weaken Trump’s allies and derail the America First agenda. With the shutdown deepening and media pressure mounting, Johnson’s future as House Speaker now hangs by a thread.