When the 114th Congress convenes at noon on Jan. 6, the first item on the agenda in the House will be the election of the speaker. Ohio Republican Rep. John Boehner, who has served in that position since 2011, is expected to be re-elected.
More than a dozen tea party-aligned conservatives, however, are likely to vote against Boehner on the grounds that he is not sufficiently steadfast in opposing President Barack Obama on a variety of issues, including the budget and immigration,
The Daily Caller reported.
According to North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones, between 16 and 18 lawmakers are talking about voting against the incumbent.
Boehner needs a simple majority of all members present. Assuming every lawmaker is in attendance, that means 218 out of 435 votes.
Anti-Boehner conservatives are hoping to corral 20 Republicans into voting for anybody but Boehner as speaker, robbing him of a majority and, possibly, embarrassing him into withdrawing from the race.
Among those purported to be part of the anti-Boehner camp are Kentucky Rep. Tom Massie, Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp, Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce, Florida Rep. Ted Yoho, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, and incoming Alabama Rep. Gary Palmer, the Caller reported.
Writing in
The Washington Times, tea party activist Judson Phillips warned that "If the GOP re-elects Mr. Boehner, then it is time for a new conservative political party."
Boehner spokesman Michael Steel indicated that the speaker was untroubled by talk of a protest vote.
"Rep. Boehner was selected as the House Republican Conference's choice for Speaker last month and he expects to be elected by the whole House next week," the Caller reported.
A tea party effort to deny Boehner the speakership in 2013 failed.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.