Mace Says She ‘Declined’ to Be Part of a Push to Oust Speaker

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), a sharp critic of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), said she won’t try to take away his gavel, despite her disapproval of his leadership and management of the House GOP conference.

Speaking to Bloomberg Government in an exclusive roundtable Thursday, Mace said she rejected a question by a colleague when asked if she would sign on to a motion to vacate and remove Johnson from the speakership.

“I was asked to be a part of that, and I declined,” Mace said. “I don’t see nine members coming forward to oust the speaker. Not happening.”

There have been several recent reports that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) had been gauging support among her colleagues on who would be willing to remove Johnson from the speakership. Nine Republicans would be needed to vacate the speakership.

Mace also previously voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), which led to a three-week stalemate in the House before a successor was elected.

Mace, who is running for governor in her home state of South Carolina, recently wrote an op-ed in the New York Times about House Republican leadership, criticizing their effectiveness implementing President Donald Trump’s agenda. Mace also expressed frustration with how women are treated in the House under Johnson’s leadership.

Mace called the GOP conference chair role the “token leadership box” women can run for when it comes to leadership. The position is currently held by Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.).

The South Carolina Republican also took a shot at Johnson for commenting on McClain’s cooking skills during a podcast appearance with Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller.

“When you compliment a woman on her cooking when you’re asked about Thanksgiving, it’s no wonder women can’t get anywhere in our conference,” Mace said.

Mace said she has talked to Johnson since she opined about leadership’s shortcomings, and the two will meet today in a small group about a potential congressional stock trading ban.

The South Carolina Republican also defended her stance and said she did not regret publicly attacking her party, despite “the heat” she got for doing so.

“I feel more vindicated by my New York Times op-ed right now than I have,” Mace said. “This is what is happening. Trump won in a landslide. He won on his agenda. We are not fulfilling his agenda.”