In a surprising turn of events, the House swiftly voted to kill Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s effort to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his leadership post. The resounding vote in Johnson’s favor, with the help of Democrats, brings an end to the most serious challenge to the speakership the Louisiana Republican has faced.
Johnson, navigating a razor-thin majority, now has the opportunity to move on to other issues after the failed ouster attempt. However, support from Democrats may open him up to criticism from his right flank.
Following the vote, Johnson spoke briefly with reporters, calling Greene’s campaign against him “misguided” and thanking colleagues for their confidence in his leadership. Greene had threatened to trigger a vote against the speaker for weeks, reopening bitter divisions within the House GOP conference.
The House voted to table Greene’s push to remove Johnson by a tally of 359 to 43, with eleven Republicans voting against tabling. House Democratic leadership had announced that Democrats would help Johnson keep his job by voting to table.
In the wake of Johnson’s push to pass a major foreign aid package over the objections of hardline conservatives, Greene did not rule out forcing another vote against Johnson in the future. She pointed to a statement from former President Donald Trump on Truth Social as supporting the potential for a motion to vacate at some point.
House Republicans were caught off guard by Greene’s decision to trigger her motion, with GOP leadership not anticipating the move after productive meetings between Johnson and Greene earlier in the week. The unexpected turn of events has left many Republicans surprised and uncertain about what comes next.