Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) said this week that there was no functional difference between leadership between House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). The comments came as the Republican majority continues shrinking amid a series of retirements.
Boebert said that there was no difference between the two political leaders in a recent CNN interview. When asked about speculation that Democrats could help save Johnson’s position should Republicans rebel against him, Boebert said that the House was “passing the Democrat agenda each and every day that we’re here.”
“We have a slim majority in the House and everything’s being passed overwhelmingly with Democrat support. So, it makes no difference to me if it’s Hakeem Jeffries as speaker or Mike Johnson right now,” she said.
Boebert: “We are passing the Democratic agenda each and every day …So it makes no difference to me if it’s Hakeem Jeffries as speaker or Mike Johnson.”
Bowman says “I’m not” comfortable w Dems voting to save Johnson. “Because Hakeem Jeffries should be the speaker.” pic.twitter.com/R43Vwm7zqa
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 30, 2024
Boebert’s comments came as the Republican delegation in the House has continued to shrink. This included the expulsion of former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) last year after allegations of fraudulent activity.
Since then a number of conservative members of the House announced their resignation prior to the end of their term. This included former Freedom Caucus member and former Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO). Buck’s resignation kicked off a Republican primary for the seat, which Boebert is running in.
Since Buck announced his departure, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) resigned last month, citing frustration within the chamber.
Boebert has kept in the spotlight, announcing that she would switch congressional districts and criticized Hunter Biden during recent congressional hearings.
The representative’s comments came as a number of House Republicans expressed their displeasure with Johnson over a number of bills, including a large spending package in March and a foreign aid bill passed last month.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a motion to vacate against the speaker, which has gained the support of several House members. Boebert has not signed onto the motion yet.
Furthermore, House members debated the efficacy of Johnson amid a series of votes in which Democrats proposed and received different bills.