House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a potential ouster vote led by GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, with House Democratic leaders indicating that Democrats will vote to kill the effort. Johnson is expected to prevail in this vote, but the outcome will still test his leadership and could open him up to criticism from the right flank of the Republican party. The number of Republicans who vote against Johnson will determine the impact on his standing within the House GOP conference.
The looming vote is causing divisions among House Republicans, with many opposing the push to oust Johnson in order to avoid bitter infighting within the conference. Greene and other hardline conservatives have been critical of Johnson’s leadership, particularly after he helped pass a foreign aid package with assistance for Ukraine. Johnson has defended his leadership, stating that he will not resign and warning of potential chaos in the House if he is ousted. Two other Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie and Paul Gosar, are publicly supporting Greene’s motion to vacate.
Greene has been threatening an ouster vote for weeks and has not ruled out the possibility of forcing repeated votes in the future. A floor vote to oust Johnson would require a majority to succeed, but a motion to table the resolution is expected to be offered and voted on first. House GOP leaders are planning to quickly take up and kill Greene’s motion, potentially on the same day she offers it. House Democratic leadership has indicated that they will help Johnson keep his job by voting to table the motion, but there is uncertainty about whether Democrats will continue to save Johnson from multiple attempts to oust him in the future.
The unfolding situation highlights the tensions within the House GOP conference and the challenges faced by Johnson as House Speaker. The outcome of the vote will have implications for Johnson’s leadership and the unity of the Republican party. Regardless of the final result, the threat of repeated ouster votes could continue to cause turmoil within the House. Johnson’s defense of his leadership and the support from Democrats may ultimately save his position, but the underlying divisions within the party are likely to persist. As the situation evolves, the future of Johnson’s speakership remains uncertain.
