Speaker Mike Johnson’s position appears to be secure, at least until November.
The top three House Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, released a statement on Tuesday morning expressing their opposition to any attempt by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove Johnson from the speakership.
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“The moment has arrived to move forward from this phase of Pro-Putin Republican obstruction,” expressed the three leaders. “We shall cast our votes to set aside Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Motion to Vacate the Chair. In the event that she invokes the motion, it will not attain success.”
The leaders’ statement indicates that most Democrats will follow suit.
In stark contrast to October, where every Democrat present voted against tabling the motion, they now find themselves voting for Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida’s motion to vacate then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Later on Tuesday morning, Greene took to Twitter to make her intentions clear. She stated that she still plans to push for a vote on her motion to vacate, without specifying a timeline for when this will happen.
“I firmly believe in recorded votes because it allows the American people to witness the truth and brings transparency to our voting process,” expressed Greene.
In late March, Greene initiated a “motion to vacate” against Johnson following the House’s approval of a government funding bill, which failed to incorporate several key hard-right priorities.
Johnson further angered conservatives when he decided to hold a vote on Ukraine aid earlier this month. This move was part of an unconventional plan that not only satisfied Democrats but also delighted progressives.
Greene’s threat may have inadvertently resulted in the opposite outcome, increasing the chances of Ukraine aid being passed. Upon hearing about the potential ouster of Johnson, rank-and-file Democrats swiftly expressed their willingness to support him if he held a vote on Ukraine aid. This unexpected turn of events provided the GOP speaker with a straightforward route to retaining his position.
During a press conference shortly after the statement was released, Johnson clarified that he had not personally spoken to Democratic leadership about their decision.
Only two other Republicans, Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Paul Gosar of Arizona, have joined Greene’s effort so far. Several other Republicans, including those who supported the removal of McCarthy, believe that it is not the right time to replace the speaker with just over 6 months remaining before the election.
Although Greene’s plan to force a vote on the matter is destined to fail, it has the potential to undermine Johnson’s political position in future leadership elections. This is because it highlights his dependence on Democratic votes to stay in power. It is worth noting that there are still some progressives who might choose to vote against tabling Greene’s motion.
