GOP’s House Lead Narrows as Yet Another Republican Is Resigning
(Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images)
The House Republican majority got a bit smaller this week with the resignation of Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH).
Johnson announced Tuesday that he accepted the position of president at Youngstown State University effective Jan. 22.
“After much thought and prayerful deliberation, I have accepted the offer to lead Youngstown State University and will not be seeking an 8th term in Congress,” Johnson posted to X. “As I’ve stated previously, I wasn’t looking for another job, because I love the one I have serving the people of Eastern Ohio in the U.S. House. This was an extremely difficult decision.”
Johnson has been serving Ohio’s 6th Congressional District since 2010. Reaction to his departure and what it meant for the House Republican majority was swift.
Daily Kos Elections broke down the conundrum the House GOP now faces.
“Right now, it’s 220R-213D, following [Kevin] McCarthy’s resignation,” they posted. “Once Bill Johnson goes, it’ll be 219R-213D. That means Speaker Mike Johnson will be able to afford max TWO defections on any vote, because a 216-216 tie would kill a bill.”
“Johnson’s departure would not likely put his seat in play next year,” RollCall reported. “Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the 2024 race Solid Republican, and in 2020 President Donald Trump carried the district by 29 percentage points.”
Some YSU alumni opposed Johnson’s appointment, sending a letter to the university’s board of trustees railing against Johnson’s opposition to gay marriage, and his belief in Donald Trump’s false “stolen election” claims. They called for “public vetting of the candidate.”
A Change.org petition signed by 1,800 people cited Johnson’s “stance on abortion, immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion issues,” as making him ineligible for the job.
The YSU Chair of the Board of Trustees addressed the controversy, saying the hiring process was “thorough” and took into account “input from the entire YSU community.”
