Republican Rep: GOP will ‘suffer no harm’ from three weeks of Speaker chaos

Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.)
Tierney L. Cross
Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) speaks during a press conference held by the Republican Study Committee announcing their Fiscal Year 2024 Budget at the Capitol on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) was optimistic about the future of the House Republican caucus after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was sworn in Wednesday, ending three weeks without a leader in the House.

In an interview with Blake Burman on “The Hill on NewsNation,” Brecheen said Republicans will bounce back quickly from votes which divided the caucus and shuffled through four Speaker candidates in three weeks.

“We’ll walk out of this and suffer no harm in terms of our ability to deliver an effective agenda,” Brecheen said. “I think Mike in his heart of hearts is going to excite, because of who he is, is going to excite the grassroots.”

Johnson, a relatively unknown conservative, quickly rose up the ranks to vice chair of the Republican Conference after being elected in 2016.

“We’ve got a Speaker of the House elected that is highly respected. He is somebody that people are inspired to follow,” Brecheen continued. “But what you see in the last 24 hours is a very organic, authentic enthusiasm for Mike Johnson because of the character that he has.”

After being elected by his party in a unanimous vote, Johnson promised the House would get back to work quickly.

“We’re in the majority right now,” Johnson said following his swearing-in as Speaker. “We’ve gone through a little bit of character building, and you know what it’s produced, more strength, more perseverance, and a lot of hope.”

“And that’s what we’re about to deliver to the American people,” he added.

“The Hill on NewsNation” airs Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Tags House Speaker vote Josh Brecheen Mike Johnson Speaker of the House The Hill on NewsNation

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