House Speaker Mike Johnson has canceled House votes for the last two weeks of September, reversing his earlier statement that he wouldn't cancel legislative business this month. The move leaves only four days of legislative business before the November 3 midterm elections. This marks a shift in Johnson's position after he told reporters on Tuesday that Republicans would "work all the way through September" as scheduled. With government funding already secured, lawmakers will now return for just four days of work from September 14 before beginning a six-week campaigning period.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
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Story summary
Speaker Mike Johnson cancelled the House votes for the last two weeks of September, leaving only four days of legislative business before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. This decision is a reversal from what Johnson said earlier in the week, when he stated that he did not intend to cancel any scheduled legislative business this month. The cancellation means that lawmakers will be able to fly home for a district work period over the Labor Day holiday and attend the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas. The House is scheduled to return on September 14 for four days of legislative business, before going into a six-week campaign period leading up to the midterm elections. This decision is not unusual for an election year, but it marks a change from Johnson's earlier stance.
Written for “House Voting Session Schedule” on 2026-09-07,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 5518 (medium confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-06
Speaker Johnson, in reversal, cancels House votes, leaving few days in session before midterms
Johnson had said he didn't intend to cancel legislative business this month.
asserted
he → cancel → business
With government funding in the rear view, the House on Thursday canceled votes for the last two weeks of September, leaving just four days of legislative business before the Nov. 3 midterm elections -- a reversal from Speaker Mike Johnson's comments on the matter earlier this week.
asserted
House → cancel → matter
After a vote series Friday morning, lawmakers will fly home for a district work period over the Labor Day holiday, as well as the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas.
asserted
lawmakers → fly → Dallas
The House is scheduled to return on Sept. 14 for four days of legislative business -- leaving on Sept. 17 for six full weeks of campaigning ahead of the midterm elections.
asserted
House → schedule → elections
The sparse floor schedule is not particularly unusual for an election year -- but is a reversal of House Speaker Mike Johnson's position earlier this week when he told reporters that he did not intend to cancel any scheduled legislative business this month.
asserted
he → tell → business
"Republicans are here to work," Johnson told reporters on Tuesday when pressed if GOP Rep. Thomas Massie's prediction of a schedule change might come to fruition.
uncertain
prediction → work → fruition
"We have a schedule, a calendar that's been out for a year.
asserted
that → have → year
We are abiding by that calendar.
asserted
We → abide → calendar
We are going to work all the way through September and every day that's on the calendar, so long as people like him don't stop the progress.
asserted
people → go → progress
"
But earlier this week, the House passed government funding through Dec. 11 -- clearing the speaker's top legislative priority ahead of the election.
asserted
House → pass → election
Lawmakers will return again for a lame duck session on Nov. 9 -- scheduling five more weeks of legislative business before the end of the 119th Congress.
asserted
Lawmakers → return → Congress
