House Speaker Mike Johnson says he intends to remain the leader of House Republicans even if the party loses its majority in next month's midterm elections, telling CBS News he expects his colleagues would ask him to stay on.
Johnson made the remarks to CBS News' Robert Costa in an interview near his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, published Monday, October 12.
"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 said.
"Tongue in cheek" lawn business comment
The interview follows a comment Johnson made to Fox News last week, when he suggested he could go back to Shreveport and start a lawn business if the GOP loses the House. The remark fueled speculation that he could retire from politics.
Johnson told Costa the attention was "just hilarious" and said the comment was "tongue in cheek."
"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."
He added: "If, heaven forbid, we lost the majority, I would expect my colleagues would call upon me to continue to lead the conference in divided government." He also said, "My intention is to stay and serve, and that's what I've been doing, as best I can."
Making the case to stay
Johnson, who has served as speaker since 2023, pointed to the millions of dollars he has raised for Republicans this cycle, his travel schedule, and his work managing a sometimes volatile GOP majority. He plans to campaign in 40 districts in 22 states before polls close on Election Day.
"I'm not sure what the case would be for any alternative," he said. "I intend to stay and lead."
Asked whether he could be a tough, combative minority leader, Johnson cited his time on the House Judiciary Committee and his defense of President Trump during both impeachment trials.
"I was a litigator in my past life — constitutional law attorney. We can be tough, but we can be happy warriors," he said. "That's what Ronald Reagan was. That's what I fashioned myself as."
Headwinds for the GOP
Republicans hold a narrow House majority going into November. Midterms traditionally favor the party that does not control the White House, and CBS News reports that the unpopular war in Iran, high gas and diesel prices, and other controversial Trump administration policies have added to the GOP's challenges.
Johnson still says he has "no intention other than winning this majority and serving as speaker."
"That is what's going to happen," he said. "And I'm telling you, I'm leaving it all in the field to do it."
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