Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) announced she will force a vote on a motion to vacate against House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) next week after initially filing it in March. The move comes after House Democratic leadership said they would vote to table the motion practically ensuring Johnson’s safety.
Greene’s effort to oust Johnson is unlikely to succeed but is expected to stir internal GOP tension as she continues to target the most powerful elected Republican in the country. Johnson has been defiant in the face of the existential threat to his speakership saying he has no intention to resign from his post as a vast majority of his conference backs him.
Marjorie Taylor Greene to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson ahead of vote to oust him https://t.co/uzc1XlBh74 pic.twitter.com/LPrSttMq7e
— New York Post (@nypost) May 6, 2024
Some Democrats are now questioning whether they should have leveraged their support for more concessions from Johnson. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said on Wednesday “There’s definitely growing pressure to use the leverage we obviously have … people want to make sure that we’re not going to be a cheap date” according to Axios.
An anonymous House Democrat also expressed a desire for “real” concessions from Johnson stating they “have yet seen any tangible evidence of deal-making and that’s what we want to see.” Johnson claims he did not ask for or negotiate a deal for Democrats’ support.
It’s not clear whether Johnson could stay on as speaker with the help of Democrats. Conservatives and several other House Republicans have doubts publicly and privately at the prospects of a Republican speaker staying in power due to Democratic support.
