STORY-TRÅD·politik

Republicans brace for three-way leader fight if they lose

Speaker Mike Johnson's sudden frank talk about his political future is upending the quiet maneuvering ahead of a post-election GOP leadership contest.Why it matters: The race could become a three-way fight if Johnson follows former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's example and tries to stay in leadership if Republicans lose the majority.Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has widely been viewed as a top contender for the job — and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) did not seek a waiver to remain Judiciary chair, fueling speculation that he's preparing to run for leader.Many Republicans privately worry they're going to lose and expected Johnson to step aside if the majority slips away.But his new blunt and unexpected musings on his own future challenge that assumption.Driving the news: "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 told CBS News.But some members aren't buying it: "Why would you want to be minority leader after speaker?" one House Republican told us, adding they would support new leadership.One leader not taking the bait is Scalise: "There are no races that any of us need to be talking about until after the election's over," he told Axios during an in-flight interview while campaigning out west.Scalise acknowledged Johnson's comments: "I think early on he said he wasn't going to play in hypotheticals, and you know, and he might have gone down that path for a minute. We're focused on holding the House, and that's where my energy is."Between the lines: A bad enough defeat could spark calls for an entirely new leadership team, three House Republicans told us.But Johnson has his defenders: "Johnson has done everything humanly possible to keep us in the majority," one House Republican told Axios.Zoom in: Some GOP sources believe a three-way contest could split support between Johnson and Scalise, potentially benefiting Jordan.Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) intends to stay in his current role and has no plans to move up the leadership ladder, he told Axios last month.Emmer staying put means three candidates would compete for one job, minority leader, without a clear fallback for the two losers beyond challenging Emmer.Becoming party leader requires only a majority vote by secret ballot, rather than a public vote on the House floor.The bottom line: The jockeying frustrates some Republicans who argue they should focus only on winning in November."How sad we have members bidding for MINORITY leadership positions," one House Republican told us in a text.