House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a vote over his potential ouster in the near future. House Democratic leaders have stated that Democrats will vote to block the effort led by GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, which is likely to ensure Johnson remains in his position. This failed vote could give Johnson the opportunity to argue that it is time to move on from the issue, but support from Democrats may lead to criticism from his own party’s right flank. The number of Republicans who vote against Johnson will be a key factor in determining the impact on his standing within the House GOP conference.
Greene has announced that she will be forcing a vote on Johnson’s potential removal in the coming days, increasing pressure on Johnson and setting up a significant showdown on the House floor. Despite the expected failure of the vote, the situation threatens to deepen divisions among House Republicans who currently hold a narrow majority. While many Republicans oppose the effort to remove Johnson and are wary of further infighting within the party, hardline conservatives have been highly critical of Johnson’s leadership.
Johnson has vowed not to resign and has defended his leadership against the threat of being ousted. He warned that a vote to remove him could cause chaos in the House and suggested that it would be detrimental to both the Republican Conference and the country. A few other Republicans, including Reps. Thomas Massie and Paul Gosar, have publicly supported Greene’s motion to vacate, while Greene herself has emphasized the importance of recorded votes and accountability to voters.
Greene first filed the motion to oust Johnson in March due to conservative discontent over Johnson’s handling of the government funding issue. The possibility of more votes in the future has not been ruled out, as Greene has suggested that additional attempts could be made if the initial vote fails. A successful floor vote to remove Johnson would require a majority, but a motion to table the resolution is expected to be offered and voted on first. House GOP leaders plan to quickly address and defeat Greene’s motion, potentially on the same day it is proposed, depending on attendance.
In response to Johnson’s actions regarding the passage of a foreign aid package that caused tension among hardline conservatives, House Democratic leadership announced that Democrats would assist Johnson in retaining his position by voting to table any potential ouster attempts. However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not commit to having Democrats continuously save Johnson if repeated votes are triggered by conservatives in the future. Jeffries emphasized that the Democratic caucus will approach the situation step by step, indicating a strategic and cautious approach to navigating the potential leadership shakeup.
