The continuing resolution would extend current government funding levels until mid-March 2025 while also tacking on an extra $110.5 billion in disaster aid and economic assistance for farmers — provisions that several Republicans have criticized for not including spending cuts elsewhere to offset the costs.

Although a vote on the CR is expected in the next few days, outrage among members could remain high and spill over into January 2025 — raising concerns for Johnson as he hopes to lock up support for speakership elections on Jan. 3.

“I’ll vote for somebody else,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) told reporters Wednesday, making him the first House Republican to say he would prop up another candidate for speaker.

“The CR was expected to be about 30 pages, and this is 1,500 pages,”  he added. “So it’s 50 times worse, numerically.”

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) indicated earlier this week that she may not vote for Johnson, telling reporters that while he is “a very good human,” she is not sure “how tough he is to really govern.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet,” she said.

It is not clear how many other lawmakers are considering an alternative to Johnson’s speakership bid in January, but one House Republican told the Washington Examiner the latest funding legislation is “almost certain” to ignite a challenge among the conference.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) told reporters that while he plans to support Johnson, he has heard from members inside and outside of the conservative bloc “who are much closer” to opposing him come January.

“They are a little disappointed in how this last week has worked out,” Harris said. “I’m not at that point, but there are members.”

Several Freedom Caucus members were mum on whether they would back a challenger to Johnson. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) noted that the anger could die down before lawmakers reach the next Congress.

“A lot of people are upset about this,” Norman said. “Now, will that relate to [choosing] somebody else on Jan. 3, I couldn’t tell you. I mean, you get into the questions of who wants it, what will they do?”

Norman did not indicate whether he would vote for a challenger to Johnson on Jan. 3, but the South Carolina Republican said he is “not voting for anybody that will repeat this travesty that we’ve had.”

“Biden is bad enough, but to go along with it and to keep funding it at the levels that they are — it’s like this is play money,” Norman said. “I’m sorry, it’s not.”

No Republicans have come out to say they would challenge Johnson, either, but names being floated among some corners of the GOP conference include House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), according to one lawmaker. All three ran for speaker in October 2023 after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster.

Johnson has faced challenges to his speakership before, including an effort from Massie and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to file a motion to vacate earlier this year to remove Johnson. That bid failed in a 359-43 bipartisan vote to table the motion.

Since then, President-elect Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Johnson, telling Republicans in a closed-door meeting last month that he fully supports his speakership. Trump has not yet publicly weighed in on the CR.

Other Republicans have expressed support for Johnson amid the continuing resolution, noting that they still support his leadership even if they will vote against the spending legislation.

“I hope that we can work through this because Americans deserve far better than personality conflicts and temper tantrums,” Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) told reporters. “Mike Johnson is in a very bad place, and we’re going to continue to work forward to get the best package possible. But as it stands right now, this deal is a no-go for me.”

Hailey Bullis contributed to this report.