Johnson ready to ‘play ball,’ hopeful to return as House speaker

With only 74 days until the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson says he is “ready to play ball.”

Johnson, R-La., is ready to discuss plans for Day 1 when the nation’s 45th president takes his oath as the 47th. Forefront of Johnson’s mind are matters he discussed throughout the last year traveling and speaking with voters across the country, such as the cost of living, the border, and rising crime rates.

Majority in his chamber, at midday Thursday, remained uncertain though the Grand Old Party led. Thirty-four races were undecided and Democrats needed 24 of them to push Johnson out of his command post.

Republicans won a majority in the Senate on Election Day. At midday Thursday with Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania still to be decided, the advantage was 52-45 with seats already flipped red in Ohio, Montana and West Virginia.

Johnson is asking to be reelected as speaker in the House of Representatives.

“We can secure our borders, prioritize the needs of Americans above foreigners, promote investment and opportunity through the tax code, return to American energy dominance, dramatically reduce regulations, expand school choice, end the woke agenda, and restore fiscal sanity to Washington – among other pressing items,” Johnson wrote in a letter to colleagues.

Johnson has stated that, with a unified Republican government, the next two years could potentially be the most consequential Congress of the modern era.

In an interview with Fox News, Johnson discussed what is on his list and what is top of mind for the American people and touched on the issues.

“We’ve got to begin on day one with securing the border,” he said. “President Trump will issue an executive order. He has that authority under existing statutory law, but we’ve got to come right behind him with a robust legislative agenda. We have got to do this for the American people, secure the border, and then turn to the catastrophe that’s been created by the border being opened. It is, it is complex, as you know. It is comprehensive, and we’re going to be dealing with it for decades, but we’re ready to go.”

Trump will seek permanent changes, leaning more toward laws than only executive orders regarding immigration reform, according to Johnson.

“He wants to go big, and we’re excited about that,” Johnson said. “We’re going to get to play offense, because I’m absolutely convinced we’re going to have the White House, the Senate and the House. I think we will deliver that majority. We’re going to be ready to play ball on day one.”