Nearly three-quarters of K Street leaders say Mike Johnson is ineffective as speaker, our recent survey of downtowners found. Notably, just 24% of Republicans who responded to The Canvass K Street survey think Johnson is good at his job.
The survey was conducted March 4-22 in partnership with independent public affairs firm, LSG, just before Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) introduced a motion to vacate Johnson as punishment for pushing through the FY2024 spending bill with Democrats’ help.
The House GOP has struggled to get much done due to its razor-thin majority and an unruly right flank. Republicans will soon command a meager one-vote House majority as more GOP lawmakers leave Congress for retirement or other cushy jobs.
With several must-pass pieces of legislation coming down the pike, Johnson will certainly have to turn to Democrats again to get things done. That is sure to further anger House conservatives.
Despite his indecisive leadership, Johnson is much more popular than his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). But K Street’s perception of Johnson’s effectiveness has dropped since January, when 38% of K Street leaders said he was effective.
Want to take part in The Canvass? Our survey provides anonymous monthly insights from top Capitol Hill staffers and K Street leaders on key issues facing Washington. Sign up here if you work on K Street. Click here to sign up if you’re a senior congressional staffer.
— Robert O’Shaughnessy
