Johnson’s speakership retained as top four candidates to succeed him lack necessary votes

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) survived an attempt to strip him of the speaker’s gavel in a resounding rejection of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to vacate. But it’s not necessarily an endorsement of his leadership.

The motion to oust Johnson was shot down by a majority of both Republicans and Democrats largely due to an overwhelming desire to prevent the House from being plunged into another chaotic leaderless period. But others conceded it would also be too difficult to find another speaker who could win the support of the entire GOP conference.

Even as Greene and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) pushed to remove Johnson, the pair acknowledged they did not have a short list of candidates to replace him. However, Massie cited “at least a dozen members of our conference who either politically or privately have done things in their life that qualify them to lead.”

Although no Republican has publicly indicated interest in becoming speaker, here are four lawmakers who are considered to be top options should the situation arise.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA)

Among the most obvious contenders to replace Johnson should he be ousted would be Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), the No. 2 Republican in the House.

Scalise was among the first to announce his candidacy for speaker after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted in October, and the majority leader was the first to be nominated for the position. However, Scalise failed to secure the majority votes needed to secure the gavel, prompting him to drop his bid one day later.

It’s not clear whether Scalise would be able to secure enough support this time around, especially after a growing number of GOP lawmakers vowed not to back his bid last year.

Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN)

Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) is another top consideration for the speakership after serving in House GOP leadership for the last two years.

Emmer was among those who ran for speaker in October, although, like Scalise, the majority whip was unable to secure the votes needed to win the gavel. His candidacy largely unraveled after former President Donald Trump came out in opposition to his bid, calling Emmer a RINO, or “Republican In Name Only.”

Since then, though, Emmer’s and Trump’s relationship has been repaired. Emmer endorsed Trump in January, with the former president returning the favor to back the majority whip’s reelection in April. That could shift some Republicans in Emmer’s favor if he chose to launch another bid for speaker in the future.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) is also among those who are considered as top choices for the speakership despite failing to secure the gavel in October.

Jordan was also among the first to launch a speakership bid to replace McCarthy. However, after three speakership votes, support for the Ohio Republican began to wane — prompting Republicans to vote to remove him as their nominee.

However, Jordan is well-liked among his conservative colleagues as well as Trump, making it likely he could be eyed as a top contender should the former president return to the White House next year.

GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY)

Another Republican leader who could be a top contender is House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), a top Trump ally in the House.

Unlike the others, Stefanik did not pursue a speakership bid in October after McCarthy’s removal. However, the conference chairwoman is well known among her GOP colleagues and has established herself as a top defender of Trump in the lower chamber.

However, Stefanik is also on a short-list of candidates being considered for Trump’s running mate in the 2024 election, making it likely she would not seek the top House position.

Other options

Even if those candidates did launch bids for the speakership at some point in the future, it’s not guaranteed Republicans would coalesce around a single candidate. That was the struggle GOP lawmakers faced in October, eventually leading to Johnson’s candidacy as a relatively unknown lawmaker at the time.

Johnson has indicated he plans to continue in his leadership position despite efforts to oust him, telling reporters this week he has already begun to map out a plan for the party next year. Johnson said he has the backing of Trump, which could help secure enough support across the GOP conference to solidify his hold on the gavel.

Other lawmakers have suggested there is no lawmaker who could secure the full support of the conference, with Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) repeatedly joking last year that not even “the Lord Jesus himself could manage this group.”

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Some lawmakers have cheekily suggested putting themselves in the speaker’s chair, becoming a running joke on Capitol Hill.

“Under the Burchett administration,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) vowed to have “Taco Tuesdays and a mariachi band.”