Mike Johnson Blames Senate For Blocking 700 House Bills

House Speaker Mike Johnson said nearly 700 bills passed by Republicans are now stuck in the Senate. He made this blunt claim on November 9, 2026, right after Democrats took control of both chambers. The Speaker argues the upper house is the only reason the President’s agenda is stalled. This revelation changes the blame game for the next two months of legislative work.

Johnson stated the House Republicans passed 1,000 measures during their time in the majority. Yet he noted that almost 700 of them are currently “stacked up in the hopper in the Senate.” The reason, he said, is that Senate Democrats refused to move any legislation before the election. He also pointed a finger at Senate Majority Leader John Thune for the lack of progress. The House is ready to work around the clock, but the Senate has blocked the path.

The Stalled Agenda

Major items like the Farm Bill and the defense spending bill are waiting for a vote. Johnson told reporters that the Senate did not even pass a single Appropriations Bill. This failure means the government faces funding issues without a clear plan. He described the situation as a “great frustration” for the House members who did their jobs. While the House stands as one of the most productive chambers in modern history, the Senate remains asleep.

Per the Washington Examiner, Johnson declined to say if he will stay on as Speaker in the new Congress. He said, “We’re focused on finishing the 119th strong.” His main goal now is to help the Republican Party prepare for the next term. He will remain in charge until early January, but his future role is uncertain. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the only recent leader to stay after losing control, a path Johnson rejected.

Leadership Shuffle Looms

With the party in the minority, a new leader must be chosen very soon. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan are both running to lead the conference in the next session. Johnson called them “two extraordinary guys” and said he is close to both candidates. The leadership elections are set to take place on Tuesday. He noted that the polls were wildly inaccurate and predicted a different outcome than what happened.

Johnson admitted he “left it all out on the field” during his campaigning efforts. He blamed the bad results on polling that showed a much different picture than reality. “They were off all over the place,” he said about the surveys that missed the mark. Despite the loss, he wants to ensure the party has a successful 120th Congress. He will step down as the GOP leader after a lot of prayer and reflection.

Why the Senate Fails

The Speaker’s comments show a deep split between the two chambers of Congress. While the House tried to pass bills, the Senate simply refused to act. Johnson implied that Senate leadership is feckless and unwilling to give the President wins. This dynamic will define the lame-duck session before the new blue-majority Congress arrives. The House is willing to stay late, but the Senate has no such plans.

Mike Johnson made it clear that the House Republicans did their part. They passed 1,000 measures, yet the Senate let them die on the vine. The average American will see the results of this gridlock in their daily life.