It was a tough night for Republicans across the board on Tuesday night, with Democrats taking back the House and the Senate. While it essentially puts us right where we were, with a useless Congress unable to function, there are other battles brewing internally now that the GOP has to fight. One of them is going to be who is the leader of the party while in the minority.

Speaker Mike Johnson has led the chamber the last two years, with Republicans sitting in the majority, but now faces the prospect of being the minority leader. On top of that, he might even have some challengers in the wings waiting to take his leadership position.

Former Congresswoman Dr. Nan Hayworth says this opens the door for opportunity.

"Then it would seem virtually inevitable that ambitious Republicans will see their chance to challenge Speaker Johnson," she says.

Johnson has had good support in the chamber and has done his job at getting plenty of legislation passed and onto the Senate. The ineptitude of Senate Majority Leader John Thune is not his fault. It is not Johnson's fault the Senate would rather hold a dog show in the lobby than pass the SAVE America Act. None of the Tuesday results fall on his shoulders.

So, his track record combined with his support in the House, he should have easy sailing in keeping his spot.

"There will be centrists who will remain in the delegation, I cannot imagine they would see a change in leadership, Speaker Johnson has fought hard for them," says Dr. Hayworth.

Nevertheless, there will be Republicans in the party who see Johnson's seat as ripe for the picking. Some will think he is not Conservative enough or did not do enough to pass President Turmp's agenda. So, never underestimate the wildcard potential.

"I could certainly see someone who feels we are not sufficiently aggressive in pursuing a certain agenda...I could certainly see someone rising up who feels the agenda was not, if you will, extreme enough," says Dr. Hayworth.

If there is a challenger, she says, it will come from someone on the further right sect of the party.

But the GOP has a long road of reflection and shuffling ahead, and Johnson could be one of the first names to fall.