Republicans say Speaker Johnson is not weakened by Democratic support

[RAY BOGAN]

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was uncharacteristically quiet when she left the House chamber Tuesday afternoon. She told reporters, “I’m headed back to my office” and kept walking just a couple hours after Democrats announced they would not join her in voting to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., effectively saving his job. 

Democratic leadership said they would vote to table the motion to vacate, and added, “If she invokes the motion, it will not succeed.”

“We don’t want to turn the clock back and let Marjorie Taylor Greene dictate the schedule and calendar of what’s ahead,” Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., said when explaining their decision. “We want to turn the page and focus on the pressing issues that everyday Americans care about.” 

https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1785323610942386593

Greene posted on X that she felt Johnson should resign and switch parties. She also hinted she may bring the motion forward anyway writing, “I’m a big believer in recorded votes.” 

She also wrote, “What slimy back room deal did Johnson make for the Democrats’ support?”

Johnson assured reporters he did not ask the Democrats for help. 

[SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON]

“I’ve not requested assistance from anyone. I’m not focused on that at all. I’m focused on getting the job done and getting the legislation passed,” Johnson said. “There’s no deals at all.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

Conservative Republicans are frustrated with Johnson because he used Democratic votes to pass key pieces of legislation like Ukraine aid and government funding bills and didn’t include border security as part of the deal. But even they said they wouldn’t support the motion to vacate.

[REP. LAUREN BOEBERT]

“It makes no difference to me if it’s Hakeem Jeffries as speaker or Mike Johnson right now,” Rep. Lauren Boebert, R – Colo., said. “You know I want speaker Mike Johnson to do the absolute best. I like Mike, I supported him to be speaker. And it’s just really sad seeing the policies that are coming out.”

[RAY BOGAN]

Those same Republicans also said Democratic support does not weaken Johnson. 

[REP. RALPH NORMAN]

“I don’t think it makes him weaker. I mean, Mike’s, you know, he’s under siege in a lot of different areas and I think he feels that now,” Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said. 

[RAY BOGAN]

Moderate Republican Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., flipped the script on conservatives who said Johnson is acting like the Democratic speaker. 

[REP. MIKE LAWLER]

“Well, it would require Democrats voting with a handful of Republicans to remove the speaker,” Lawler said. 

[RAY BOGAN]

Part of the conservative’s calculus for standing behind Johnson is the math. If Johnson were ousted, Republicans don’t have a viable replacement. They’re also concerned that if any more Republicans resign they’d hand the majority to Democrats and the gavel to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. 

[REP. TIM BURCHETT]

Absolutely,” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said.  “Had the margin been bigger, we wouldn’t have had this, y’all wouldn’t be talking to me. You’d be asking me about ‘How can I be so outstanding at congressional baseball, but still be third string?”