Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has put rank-and-file Republicans in a difficult position with her push to remove Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). This decision forces them to make a tough choice: either vote against a party leader backed by former President Trump or align themselves with Democrats to defend a figure who is widely disliked among conservatives.
Greene’s resolution, slated to be brought to the floor next week, is anticipated to fall short of success due to the assurance offered by Democratic leaders to maintain Johnson’s position for the sake of maintaining stability within the chamber. Nevertheless, the outspoken Georgia representative is determined to forge ahead, emphasizing the significance of having every House lawmaker publicly state their stance on Johnson’s leadership track record, thus ensuring absolute transparency for voters.
“I am eagerly looking forward to witnessing every member of Congress cast their vote,” she expressed. “It will be interesting to see Democrats openly supporting a Republican Speaker and facing their constituents in the upcoming primaries. Similarly, I am excited to witness my fellow Republican colleagues reveal their true colors and showcase our party’s identity.”
“Do they have the willingness to engage in a real fight or are they simply going to continue going along with the status quo?”
Many Republicans understand and share Greene’s frustrations with Johnson’s inclination towards bipartisan deal-making. However, they were hoping to avoid the motion-to-vacate vote. Even some of Johnson’s most ardent GOP critics have been trying to defuse Greene’s effort in recent weeks, as they are cautious about igniting an internal party conflict as the House’s control is at stake in November.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) emphasized the need for cautious utilization of these tools, acknowledging their existence but advocating for their limited deployment. He highlighted the current distance of approximately six months from the upcoming election and emphasized the necessity to prioritize our attention on that crucial event.
But Greene, along with her two allies, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), are determined to proceed with their plan to remove Johnson from his position. This puts many conservatives in a difficult position as they are faced with two unappealing choices.
Johnson’s willingness to cooperate with President Biden and Democrats on significant legislation has sparked outrage among hard-liners. They are particularly angry about the recent passage of bills that extended federal funding, reauthorized the U.S.’s warrantless surveillance powers, and pushed through a foreign aid package, which allocated approximately $61 billion for Ukraine.
Few Republicans on Capitol Hill want to distance themselves from Trump, the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee. Trump has gone out of his way to praise Johnson’s Speakership performance, and this promotional campaign has become even more pronounced since Greene first filed her vacate motion last month.
“I fully support the Speaker,” Trump exclaimed warmly during his recent meeting with Johnson at Mar-a-Lago. “He is truly excelling in his role despite facing numerous challenges.”
Moreover, there are concerns among hard-liners regarding the potential chaos that could ensue in the House so close to the upcoming November elections. They fear that such disorderliness could negatively impact the party, potentially influencing voters when they make their decisions on who will hold control of the chamber in the following year.
According to Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), there is no benefit to be gained from initiating a motion to vacate the chair at this particular moment in time.
Republicans who support keeping Johnson in power are also facing political risks. The far right is highly displeased with his legislative record, and this discontent is being expressed by Republicans in their respective districts. Moreover, in order to maintain the Speaker’s power, they will need to collaborate with Democrats, which could lead to accusations that Republicans on Capitol Hill have forsaken their conservative values to align themselves with the “Uniparty.”
“You have the freedom to choose if you’re a Republican,” Massie stated on Wednesday. “Will you align yourself with Hakeem Jeffries, as Mike Johnson has done? Will you support the Uniparty, as Mike Johnson has, when you return next week? Or will you stand up and fight for the Americans who granted us the majority?”
In a surprising turn of events, the Democrats have made a promise to reach across party lines and come to the aid of Johnson. This unexpected move marks a significant development in the ongoing drama surrounding the Speakership, which has been a defining characteristic of this Congress. It is truly unprecedented for the minority party to pledge their support and save a leader from potential political downfall.
The Democrats face a challenging decision as they grapple with the complexity of their relationship with Johnson. They have been vocal opponents of his conservative stance on Capitol Hill, specifically when it comes to abortion and gay rights. Moreover, there is still lingering animosity towards Johnson for his pivotal role in constructing the legal argument for the Republicans’ attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
Democrats are presenting their rescue mission as a vote against Greene and the potential legislative gridlock that would occur if she were to succeed. They fear that another Speaker fight would impede Congress’s ability to pass critical legislation, such as the Farm Bill and the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.
According to Representative Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), head of the Congressional Black Caucus, Speaker Johnson is not involved in this matter.
Greene and Massie are highlighting an extraordinary dynamic as they seek to garner more support for their motion to vacate. Their show of support is shedding light on Republicans endorsing a Speaker who is backed by Democrats.
During a press conference on Wednesday morning, Greene and Massie showcased two prominent pictures of Johnson and Jeffries. The podium proudly displayed a fresh sign that read, “Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Mike Johnson, the uniparty Speaker.”
According to Greene, the Democrats, particularly Hakeem Jeffries, have warmly embraced and endorsed Mike Johnson. Greene criticizes their support and suggests that Johnson is fulfilling all of the Democrats’ desires.
The pressure is mounting as Greene tries to connect the outcome of the motion-to-vacate vote to next year’s House majority. In a fiery argument on Wednesday, the firebrand claimed that if Johnson continues to lead the conference until November, Republicans will lose their advantage in the House.
“We must ensure a Republican majority in January, but with Mike Johnson leading, that won’t be the case,” Greene asserted. “Hakeem Jeffries supports Mike Johnson because he understands that his leadership will inadvertently benefit the Democrats by granting them control of the House in January.”
