Washington — In a surprising turn of events, a third Republican has joined the movement to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position, raising the possibility that Democrats may need to intervene to protect him in a potential vote.
Representative Paul Gosar from Arizona declared his support for the motion to remove Johnson from the Speaker role following the House's approval of a foreign aid package, which garnered more Democratic backing than Republican.
"I am standing in solidarity with the motion to vacate the Speaker," Gosar stated. "Our nation's border security cannot be disregarded. We require a Speaker who prioritizes America's interests over yielding to the unreasonable demands of warmongers, neo-cons, and the military industrial complex profiting from a costly and unending war thousands of miles away."
A faction of conservative hardliners have criticized Johnson for the exclusion of border security measures in the package. The House is slated to conduct a final vote on the legislation, which encompasses aid for Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, and other foreign policy objectives, on Saturday.
The campaign to remove Johnson has been led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia. For weeks, she has been using the threat as leverage, cautioning him against holding a vote on funding for Ukraine. However, she has not yet taken steps to push for a vote and has not specified when she might do so. Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky is also endorsing the resolution.
Greene mentioned on Thursday that she has refrained from forcing the vote because she considers herself a "responsible person."
"I'm not making decisions based on emotions or impulsive reactions," she stated. "I'm following the appropriate procedures."
Prior to Friday's procedural vote, Johnson expressed confidence in his position.
"I don't fret," he remarked. "I simply focus on fulfilling my responsibilities."
On Wednesday, Johnson clarified that he had not sought assistance from Democrats.
"I haven't reached out to any Democrats for support," he clarified. "I don't spend my time pondering the motion to vacate. My focus is on my duties here, and I will carry them out, regardless of personal repercussions. That's what we're here to do. If Marjorie presents the motion, we'll deal with it accordingly."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not definitively state on Friday whether Democrats would intervene, indicating that the caucus "will discuss how to address any potential motion to vacate, which hasn't been officially raised yet."
During a recent discussion, the New York Democrat highlighted the trio of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Massie, and Gosar, emphasizing their significance in the upcoming conversation. However, the primary focus remains on ensuring the comprehensive passage of national security legislation by the House of Representatives.
