House conservatives are closely monitoring their Democratic colleagues following a statement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., pledging to protect Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., from a GOP-led ouster threat. Some conservative lawmakers are questioning the Democrats’ intentions, with Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., suggesting that the public support for Johnson might be a strategic move to ultimately remove him from his position. The House Democratic leaders released a joint statement on Tuesday stating that they would block a House-wide vote on ousting Johnson by voting to table the motion, known as a motion to vacate the chair, which is a procedural step that precedes the actual vote on the motion itself.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is leading the GOP rebel threats to trigger a vote on removing Johnson from House leadership due to his bipartisan efforts on government funding and foreign aid. Some lawmakers speculate that the Democrats’ announcement may be an attempt to goad Greene into forcing the vote. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., expressed concerns about this tactic, while Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., acknowledged the rumors on the Hill that Democrats were trying to provoke Greene. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., raised questions about the Democrats’ support for Johnson, especially considering that they had previously voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in October.
Since Greene filed the resolution nearly 40 days ago, only two other lawmakers, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., have signed on as co-sponsors. Despite the lack of widespread support within the GOP, Greene has not yet declared the resolution as “privileged” on the House floor, which would force leaders to take it up within two legislative days. Johnson’s critics in the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus have distanced themselves from the push to oust him, signaling little appetite for the chaos that followed McCarthy’s ouster last fall. Greene and Massie held a press conference in response to the Democrats’ announcement, criticizing Johnson’s bipartisan approach and questioning the Democrats’ endorsement of his Speakership.
House Democrats, including Jeffries and House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., declared in their joint statement that they would vote to table Greene’s Motion to Vacate the Chair and confirmed that they would not support her motion if she invokes it. They emphasized their commitment to bipartisan cooperation and opposition to “MAGA extremism.” Johnson, in response to the Democrats’ announcement, expressed surprise and reaffirmed his dedication to fulfilling his duties as Speaker. Greene took to social media to criticize Johnson and the Democrats, accusing Johnson of making a “slimy backroom deal” for their support. Both Greene and Jeffries’ offices were reached out to for comment but did not respond.
Overall, the tensions between House conservatives and Democrats over the potential ouster of Speaker Mike Johnson highlight the divisions and strategic maneuvering within the House of Representatives. While Democrats have publicly declared support for Johnson and pledged to block any vote on his removal, some Republicans, led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, are actively pushing for his ouster due to his bipartisan efforts. The lack of widespread support for Greene’s motion and the reluctance of some conservative lawmakers to join the push suggest that the GOP is divided on the issue. The Democrats’ tactics, including the possibility of goading Greene into forcing a vote, demonstrate the political calculations and power dynamics at play in the House. Ultimately, the outcome of this power struggle will impact the direction of House leadership and legislative priorities moving forward.
