In a rare bipartisan move, Republicans and Democrats easily beat back Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s attempt.
The United States House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to thwart Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene’s attempt to unseat Speaker Mike Johnson, a fellow Republican.
In an unusual move, Democrats joined Republicans on Wednesday in a 359-43 vote to keep Johnson in his leadership role and avert further unrest in the House.
“I appreciate my colleagues’ vote of confidence in thwarting this misguided attempt,” Johnson said after the vote. “Hopefully this is the end of the character assassination that has characterized the current Congress.”
Hardline Rep. Greene has been trying to oust Johnson for weeks after reaching a series of compromises with Democrats over a $95 billion security aid bill for U.S. allies Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Greene is a leading voice on the far-right flank opposing aid to Ukraine. After the House passed the bill in April, she called Johnson a “lame duck.”
Johnson’s leadership is “pathetic, weak and unacceptable,” Greene said on Wednesday as she launched the “resignation motion.”
The same procedure was used in the October ouster of former Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the first time in U.S. history that the House of Representatives voted to remove its leader.
Republicans hold a narrow majority of 217 to 213 in the House of Representatives. Most opposed the vote to remove Johnson, with just 11 votes in favor and 196 against.
“As I have said from the beginning and made clear here every day, I intend to do my job,” Johnson said. “And I let the chips fall where they may. In my opinion, that’s leadership.”
Democrats, led by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, had promised to keep Johnson in his seat, with 163 opposed to the proposal.
“Our decision to stop Marjorie Taylor Greene from plunging the country into further chaos is rooted in our commitment to solving problems,” House Minority Leader Jeffries said after the vote.
Greene’s move marked a rare Republican defiance of presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump, who said in a social media post after the House vote that it was “not the time” for Republicans to try to oust their own speaker.
“This is not a person who knows how to lead,” Republican Marcus Molinaro said after the vote on Greene. “She is not a person who knows how to negotiate. And she certainly doesn’t seem concerned about the stability of Congress or the people we represent.”
Some Republicans said she could face disciplinary action for trying to show disunity in the party.