House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized voters after Republicans’ midterm defeat, telling CNN’s Manu Raju on Capitol Hill on November 9 that they had made the wrong choice. He defended President Donald Trump’s record as Democrats prepared to take control of both chambers of Congress in January.
“I’m sorry that the voters made the wrong choice,” Johnson said, according to Raju’s post reproduced by Mediaite and AL.com. The remark came after Raju asked whether Trump should change course following the November 3 election losses.
Johnson’s comments combined support for the administration with a warning about the incoming Democratic House. In separate remarks from the same day, published by his office on November 10, he also acknowledged the election outcome and said Republicans needed to reflect on their defeat.
What Mike Johnson said about the election
In the exchange reported by Mediaite, Johnson declined to advise Trump on how to run his presidency. He praised the administration’s first two years and said he expected further successes, rather than identifying an immediate policy change he wanted the president to make.
He predicted that the next two years under Democratic House leadership would be a “circus” and bring “chaos.” He also described the situation as a “great tragedy,” arguing that Republicans would have continued delivering for Americans if they had retained their majority.
Those descriptions were Johnson’s political assessment of the election and his forecast of Democratic governance. They were not established facts about how the next Congress will operate or evidence that the vote count was inaccurate.
The remarks drew criticism. A report carried by Yahoo News on November 10 said Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts challenged Johnson’s response on the House floor. McGovern argued that Republicans were failing to listen to voters and repeating the approach that contributed to their defeat.
His office also acknowledged voters’ decision
A transcript published by the speaker’s office provides additional context about Johnson’s public response. In those opening remarks, he said the results were disappointing but recognized that “the people have spoken.”
Mike Johnson said incoming members would take their seats in the new year and described the election as part of the country’s system. He urged Republicans to respond to losing by continuing to defend their principles and preparing to regain control of Congress.
He also said the party would retain policies it believed had worked and fix those that had not. His office’s transcript records that commitment alongside his defense of the Republican legislative record.
These remarks do not retract the comments reported from his exchange with Raju. They show that his criticism of voters appeared alongside an acknowledgment of the outcome and a stated intention to review the party’s approach.
Democrats have won more than 250 House seats
The Associated Press reported that Democrats won control of the House and Senate. AL.com, citing AP’s count, reported 254 Democratic House victories as of November 10 morning, with other races still undecided. That dated count should not be treated as the final composition of the chamber.
The change in party control takes effect with the next congressional terms. Under the 20th Amendment, senators’ and representatives’ new terms begin at noon on January 3. The next transition is January 3, 2027; November’s election did not immediately replace the sitting Congress.
Republicans have also chosen their next House leader. AP reported that Jim Jordan defeated Steve Scalise in the party’s November 10 leadership election. Mike Johnson had already decided against seeking the minority-leader position, as Hourly Times previously reported.
Johnson continues to oppose Hegseth impeachment
Johnson also opposed the effort by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. AP reported on November 10 that he defended the secretary and predicted Republicans would defeat the proposal.
Massie’s eight-count resolution focuses largely on the Iran war. Hegseth disputes the allegations. Hourly Times’ coverage of the renewed impeachment effort explains its background and the distinction between House impeachment and Senate removal.
AP’s November 10 report described a pending procedural vote that could send the matter to committee or allow it to advance toward a final House decision. That congressional action is the next immediate test of Johnson’s defense of the administration.
