Republican Unity Thwarts Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Attempt to Oust House Speaker Mike Johnson
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Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent attempt to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position has not only failed but also appears to have bolstered the unity among many of her fellow Republicans who are pleased with the outcome.
Reports from Axios reveal that multiple House Republicans are confident that Greene’s effort to end Johnson’s speakership has faltered, especially after it became clear that House Democrats would not support her motion if brought to the floor. The dissatisfaction with Greene’s tactics is not limited to moderate Republicans.
“Even trolls online have said they don’t want it,” one GOP lawmaker told the publication. “I don’t think she’s going to do it — I think that window for her has passed,” said another. “I don’t personally think so based on what I’m hearing, but you’d have to talk to the folks that have talked about triggering it,” Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) said of the prospects for a successful motion to vacate. “I’m not convinced that if we go into a motion to vacate, we come out with a more conservative solution, so I think every person has to evaluate it,” said Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK).
Even some of her more hardline peers, who previously supported efforts to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have shown reluctance to back her latest campaign. Representative Matt Gaetz, a notable figure in the push against McCarthy, expressed his hope that Greene would not proceed with her plan to reintroduce her motion to vacate the speaker’s position this week.
Despite her aggressive approach, Greene managed to secure the backing of Representatives Paul Gosar and Thomas Massie for her motion. This support theoretically could have been enough to challenge Johnson’s role if all Democrats aligned as they did during last year’s successful motion against McCarthy. However, this time around, key Democrats like Representatives Tom Suozzi and Jared Moskowitz have made it clear they would not support Greene’s motion, significantly reducing its chances of success.
The overall reluctance from both parties to support Greene’s motion underscores a broader hesitancy to engage in another leadership battle, especially after the protracted and divisive fight over McCarthy’s position. Many Republicans view Greene’s actions as destabilizing and counterproductive to the party’s broader goals and governance agenda.
The unity among Republicans in response to Greene’s failed bid is indicative of a desire within the party to maintain a semblance of stability and avoid internal conflicts that could undermine their effectiveness. It also reflects an ongoing struggle within the party between traditional conservative elements and more extreme factions.
As the dust settles from this latest political skirmish, it appears that Speaker Mike Johnson will retain his position for the foreseeable future, backed by a coalition of Republicans and Democrats who are wary of further upheaval. Greene’s move, while bold, has highlighted the intricate dynamics of party politics and the challenges of navigating leadership disputes in a highly polarized legislative environment.
