Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has yet to take action on her threat to call a vote to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson. After Democratic leaders announced they would protect Johnson if Greene tried to vacate the chair, Greene responded by accusing Johnson of making a deal with the Democrats and calling him the Democrat Speaker of the House. Some Republicans believe this move by the Democrats could embolden others who want to oust Johnson and potentially challenge him for his position in the future. Historically, politicians like Joe Cannon have relied on cross-party support to retain their Speakership. Experts warn that Senate gridlock could worsen if politicians like Romney, Sinema, and Manchin retire.
If Greene’s resolution is triggered, the first vote will likely be on whether to table or kill the resolution. If the House votes to table, Greene’s efforts will be defeated. Democrats say they will assist in this aspect, but they are not giving Johnson a full-throated endorsement. If the motion to table fails, the House then votes on whether to remove Johnson, which could lead to chaos and a paralyzed House until a new Speaker is elected. Greene’s situation is similar to former Rep. Mark Meadows’ attempt to remove Speaker John Boehner in 2015, which never came to a vote.
It is believed that Johnson has essentially “cleaned the barn” until fall, as there are no major crises on the horizon for Congress to deal with. The next big deadline is funding the government by September 30, but if Greene fails to gain support to remove Johnson, the next vote for House Speaker will be in January 2025 when the 119th Congress convenes. Democrats are not expected to protect Johnson during this vote, and the new Speaker of the House may be elected based on the party that holds the majority in the House at that time. Ultimately, Greene’s efforts could potentially lead to a challenge for Johnson’s position in the future by other Republicans.
