Mike Johnson prepares for possible GOP House loss as he reveals what he'll do if it happens
WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson fears losing his position in the lower chamber if his party fails to protect the narrow majority it enjoys in Congress.
Johnson said that even if his party loses the November midterms, he would expect to remain leader of the House Republican conference.
Republicans hold a 53–47 majority in the US Senate and a narrow majority of 219–214 (with 1 independent and 2 vacancies) in the US House of Representatives. 2 of the seats in the Senate belong to Independents.
Mike Johnson wants to remain GOP leader irrespective of November result
Mike Johnson remains confident in the party’s chances to secure the House majority despite the headwinds predicted in polls and surveys. But he wants to remain the GOP leader even if his party loses.
"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.
The outlet’s Robert Costa interviewed Johnson near his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.
Johnson has persistently pushed back against questions about his plans if the GOP loses the majority in the lower chamber in November. He has been serving as House speaker since 2023.
He has maintained that Republicans will not only hold their majority but expand it.
EXCLUSIVE: “Heaven forbid, if we lose this majority or whatever, I don't know what my next chapter of life is,” says SPEAKER JOHNSON as he opens up to me about the midterms. “If God moves on our hearts and says we should, you know, go back to my hometown of Shreveport and start a lawn business, I'll do that with equal fervor. I mean, I just want to be of my highest and best use.. to God and to my country.”
— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) October 8, 2026
Several election polls suggest that securing a majority appears challenging for the GOP, and issues like the unpopular war in Iran, high gas and diesel prices, and other controversial Trump administration policies have added to the struggle.
Johnson says lawn business remark was a joke
Johnson, in an interview with Fox News last week said, "If God moves on our hearts and says we should, you know, go back to my hometown of Shreveport and start a lawn business, I’ll do that with equal fervor."
But he clarified that the remark was "tongue in cheek."
“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,” Johnson said about his previous comment.
Johnson makes his case to keep leading
"My intention is to stay and serve, and that's what I've been doing, as best I can," Johnson said.
Johnson has been campaigning heavily in recent weeks and plans to visit 40 districts across 22 states before Election Day.
He defended his leadership, saying he has raised millions of dollars for Republicans this election cycle, traveled widely to campaign for the party and managed a sometimes divided GOP majority in the House.
"I'm not sure what the case would be for any alternative," he said. "I intend to stay and lead."
When pressed on whether he would be able to become a tough, combative minority leader in the current political environment, Johnson reminded his time on the House Judiciary Committee.
"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."
