Following President-elect Donald Trump’s unequivocal endorsement of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to retain his role as has as speaker of the House earlier this week, experts say that Johnson’s chances of being reelected remain favorable.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social Monday urging conservatives to unite in order to combat the “destructive policies of the last Administration,” Trump concluded by stating, “Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!” He followed up his post by telling reporters on Tuesday, “No one else can get the votes.”

The endorsement comes as questions swirl about Johnson’s ability to retain the speakership as the 119th Congress is set to kick off on Friday. The session will begin with a vote for who will lead the House for the next two-year term. There will be little wiggle room for Johnson, who will need 218 votes to retain the speakership. Currently, 219 Republicans are expected to attend the vote. All 215 Democrats will most likely vote for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

As of Thursday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who is known as a libertarian-leaning conservative who often holds views that few of his GOP colleagues share, is the only Republican to publicly state that he will not vote for Johnson. Massie has cited Johnson’s support for sending $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, his vote against a measure to require warrants for searching Americans’ online data, and the recent federal spending bill negotiated by him as reasons for opposing his bid for speaker.

Other GOP congressmen such as Andy Harris (Md.) and Ralph Norman (S.C.) have also signaled their possible opposition to Johnson over his handling of the controversial spending bill. Others such as Scott Perry (Pa.) say they are “going to keep my options open.” In addition, Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Eric Burlison (Mo.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Barry Moore (Ala.), Victoria Spartz (Ind.), Chip Roy (Texas), and Massie all voted to oust Johnson in May in the wake of the Ukraine aid package being brought to the floor.

But conservative leaders argue that there is no other viable candidate to lead the House other than Johnson. “I do not understand what the CONTRARIAN house republicans think they will gain by opposing Speaker Mike Johnson,” former GOP Speaker Newt Gingrich posted on X Tuesday. “They have no one who can get more votes. [T]hey risk crippling President Trump’s electoral win on January 6. They are in effect allies of the Democrats. I challenge them to explain what their end game is other than noise.”

The editors at National Review concur. On Thursday, they wrote, “In the real world, given that there is currently no other candidate who can garner 218 votes and that the House cannot conduct business without a speaker in place, the only alternative to Johnson is chaos.” The editors further argued that Johnson “has filled the role ably. He’s a reliable and thoughtful conservative who has proved a shrewd tactician. Likable and nonthreatening, he will never become a hate figure like some of his predecessors. He has managed the — for anyone in his role — all-important relationship with Trump well, given the circumstances.”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins also expressed support for Johnson following Trump’s announcement. “President Trump’s endorsement of Mike Johnson recognizes the reality that unifying 219 diverse leaders is a task that requires divine guidance, and Mike Johnson is best suited to seek that guidance,” he posted on X Tuesday. “… Pray that the Lord would provide godly leadership for our Congress and that He would move on the hearts of the members as they vote on Friday.”

Former Congressman Jody Hice, who serves as president of FRC Action, conveyed confidence that Trump’s endorsement would seal the deal for Johnson. “The endorsement of President-elect Trump in favor of Mike Johnson for speaker of the House creates huge momentum towards him maintaining the gavel,” he told The Washington Stand. “For those members who might consider voting against the speaker, the incoming president’s endorsement makes it more difficult for them to appear as though they support Trump. This truth, when coupled with the terror attacks in Louisiana and the potential national security threats that could be realized without an active Congress in place, makes it unlikely to me that Speaker Johnson will face a serious challenge."