WASHINGTON — An effort by a miniature group of far-right Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from his leadership role failed Wednesday night, ending weeks of infighting over whether the Louisianan should remain that chamber’s leader.
Republican lawmakers were joined by Democrats voted 359 to 43 to file or rescind the so-called motion to evict Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene originally submitted in March, before spending weeks calling for Johnson’s resignation.
Greene was joined before the vote by Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, although several other GOP lawmakers expressed frustration with Johnson’s leadership by voting to advance a vote rather than table it.
Greene objected to Johnson’s introduction of largely bipartisan bills into the House during his six months as speaker.
The federal funding bills, Greene said, showed that “Johnson supported fully funding abortion, the transgender agenda, the climate agenda, foreign wars and Biden’s border crisis, rather than ensuring freedom, opportunity and security for all Americans.”
“Ill-equipped to handle the rigors or the office of House Speaker, Mike Johnson has enabled a unified party – a party that fuels wars abroad, tramples on civil rights and increases our catastrophic national debt – to do so “To take complete control of the House of Representatives,” Greene said.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, moved to table Greene’s proposal.
Johnson, speaking to reporters at Statuary Hall, said he appreciated “the vote of confidence from my colleagues in thwarting this misguided attempt.”
“Hopefully this is the end of the personality politics and frivolous character assassination that have characterized the 118th Congress,” Johnson said. “It’s sorrowful. That is not who we are as Americans. And we are better than that. We have to get beyond that.”
Johnson said he plans to work throughout the year to expand the Republican majority in the House of Representatives and elect Donald Trump as president in the November election.
“I am proud to be in this position. It’s not what I was aiming for. It’s not something I ever expected or planned, but it’s the honor of my life and career to do this,” Jonson said. “And I will do it as long as this body tells me to.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader Katherine Clark and Democratic Leader Pete Aguilar announced last week They would vote to keep Johnson in the speaker’s office.
“We will vote to table Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to vacate the presidency,” they wrote at the time. “If she invokes the application, it will not succeed.”
Greene and Massie met with Johnson for two hours on Monday and about 90 minutes on Tuesday, in which they explain their requirements as to why they are not submitting the withdrawal request. Greene said it was up to Johnson whether or not to abide by the changes.
Big change from the McCarthy vote
The vote was significantly different from that Vote to remove Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, resigned in October after Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida filed another resignation request.
Eight Republicans and the chamber’s Democrats Voted Removing McCarthy from his leadership position.
The House Republican Conference then spent weeks debating behind closed doors over who should be their nominee for speaker – and first Choose Scalise, who withdrew after just one day without a vote; Then choose Jim Jordan from Ohio, who accepted his offer for one Series of failed votes; and then Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer, who withdrew after just a few hours as a candidate.
House Republicans then voted to nominate Johnson received unanimous support from other GOP lawmakers during the vote.
Johnson held that leadership role for less than six months before Greene began calling on him to resign as speaker or move to remove him from the House.
Greene and others are increasingly upset that Johnson has brought bipartisan bills to a vote, including a government funding bill, reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Johnson’s critics argue that he should have done more to push for conservative policy victories, even though any bill that passes the House must pass through the Democratic-controlled Senate and avoid President Joe Biden’s veto to become law .
Greene has also argued that Johnson’s approval of largely bipartisan legislation in the House could jeopardize Republican candidates’ chances of winning seats in the November election.
