House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., says he intends to remain at the helm of the Republican conference even in what he called the “unlikely scenario” that the GOP loses control of the House.
In an exclusive interview with CBS News’ Robert Costa, Johnson said he believes he is right where he is meant to be.
“I want to be of my highest and best use to God in my country, and I feel like at this stage of life, I’m doing what I’m called to do, and so I intend to lead as Speaker,” Johnson said. “Heaven forbid, I don’t think it’s going to happen, so I don’t spend any time thinking about it.”
He made clear he expects his colleagues to stand behind him regardless of the outcome.
“But in the unlikely scenario where we lost the majority, I would expect my colleagues would ask me to continue leading this conference, even if we have divided government,” Johnson added.
The Speaker’s comments come just days after he raised the possibility of returning to Louisiana if Republicans lose the midterms during an interview with Fox News.
That remark quickly sparked speculation about his future, which Johnson dismissed when CBS asked him about it.
“It’s just hilarious,” the Speaker said.
The Louisiana Republican explained that his earlier comment was about his guiding principles.
“What I was trying to say to them is that throughout my whole life, my number one objective is to be of my highest and best use to God and to my country, and that’s always what I’ve thought,” Johnson said. “And I was trying to make the point that if God has a different design, then we’ll follow that. But what I believe is, I’m going to be the Speaker of the House for at least two more years.”
Johnson was also asked about past Speakers who left Congress after their party lost control of the chamber. He indicated he does not plan to follow that path.
“I’m going to continue to serve my highest best use to God in country, and I believe right now, as we’re sitting here, that’s the Speaker of the House,” Johnson told CBS.
“And if we lost the majority, I don’t think that that position that I have would change. I think I would stay right there,” he added.
Not everyone in his party may be on the same page. Some GOP lawmakers and aides previously told The Hill there could be a potential push to back someone other than Johnson as leader if Republicans suffer major losses in the midterms.
Democrats, meanwhile, are already predicting the Speaker’s exit. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said last week that Johnson will “ultimately have to make a decision about what comes next.”
“I can say that the American people are about to retire Mike Johnson and the Republican majority in the House and possibly even in the Senate,” Jeffries said.
Forecasters see a tough road ahead for the GOP. Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, currently gives Democrats a 76 percent chance of winning control of the House.
Still, Johnson remains confident in both his party’s chances and his own future, insisting he doesn’t spend time dwelling on a loss he doesn’t believe is going to happen.
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