North Dakota GOP candidate promises to challenge Johnson’s bid for Speaker if elected

A North Dakota Republican vying for the state’s sole House seat released a three-pronged border plan ahead of the GOP primary that includes not supporting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) for the top leadership position if elected to Congress.

Bismarck plastic surgeon and former state Rep. Rick Becker unveiled his “Becker Border Plan” on Monday. The first prong would be voting to shut down the federal government if the border is not secured, with the second being his refusal to take a salary until “Trump border policies” are reinstated. The third would involve not voting for Johnson over his approach to foreign aid.

“I will not be voting for Speaker Mike Johnson,” Becker wrote. “Speaker Johnson promised many times not to fund the war in Ukraine until we passed border security measures. He then caved, sending $100 billion to fund foreign wars while the invasion continues to happen right here at home. In Washington, people are policy, and I will not vote for the open-border Speaker Johnson.”

Johnson recently faced a motion to vacate threat from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) after she accused him of violating his promises and working too closely with House Democrats on key legislation, such as aid to Ukraine and passing the reauthorization of a controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act program.

The House voted to table the motion to vacate in a bipartisan vote, but Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), another of Johnson’s House foes, has said he does not anticipate Johnson holding the gavel if the GOP maintains the House majority next Congress. He told NBC News that “hell or high water, I won’t vote for him” next term.

Becker’s border plan is likely an appeal to hard-line Republican voters and Freedom Caucus members in Congress who have created headaches for Johnson, as many of them, such as Reps. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Andrew Clyde (R-GA), have endorsed him.

The former state representative faces North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak and three other Republicans in the GOP primary on Tuesday as they look to fill the seat of outgoing Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND). Armstrong opted not to seek reelection and is running for governor.

North Dakota’s sole House seat is rated as solid Republican, with Fedorchak and Becker the front-runners in the race.

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Fedorchak is the GOP establishment pick, per Cook Political Report, though Air Force and Navy veteran Alex Balazs received the North Dakota GOP endorsement. A WPA Intelligence poll taken May 20-22 found that Fedorchak is leading with 32%, followed by Becker with 25% and Balazs with 5%.

Becker has focused most of his attacks on Fedorchak, releasing a website in April labeling her as a “swamp creature” and “RINO,” or “Republican In Name Only.” He recently hired transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney to troll Fedorchak for “going to the D.C. zoo to be working with rhinos.”