House Republicans are set to have some surprises in their internal leadership elections for the 119th Congress on Wednesday, along with several competitive races for lower-ranking leadership roles.

Conservatives were mulling a last-minute challenge to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), and President-elect Trump’s pick of House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to be United Nations Ambassador is setting off a scramble for those vying to fill her position.

The closed-door leadership elections are conducted by secret ballot. Republicans will hold a candidate forum in the morning and elections in the afternoon.

Speaker nominee

Johnson, who has been in the Speaker role for a little over a year, is seeking to keep his gavel. He is pitching the importance of continuity of leadership as Republicans plot an ambitious legislative agenda under Trump, with economic and tax issues taking the forefront.

But risks facing a protest challenger, with some conservatives frustrated with how Johnson has handled spending issues and other policy considerations.

Sources told The Hill Tuesday afternoon that conservatives will nominate an alternative to Johnson for the Speakership on Wednesday, but that they have not decided who that nominee will be.

But by Wednesday evening, the conservative sources said they were planning a plan B method to show resistance to Johnson and GOP leadership that did not involve a protest candidate.

While Johnson is expected to easily win the internal nomination, the challenge could foreshadow difficulties for Johnson in securing the gavel on the House floor on Jan. 3, when Johnson will need........

© The Hill