House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a perilous stretch as numerous resignations have whittled away at the Republican majority, while a faction led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is openly revolting against his leadership.
Johnson has been under fire from some in his party since taking the Speaker’s position in October 2023 after a protracted battle. Last week, that criticism escalated when Greene filed a “motion to vacate” the chair, accusing Johnson of “betraying” Republicans by approving a $1.2 trillion spending bill despite violating a 72-hour review period rule.
While Greene has not formally triggered a vote on her motion yet, calling it more of a “warning” to Johnson for now, the threat hangs over his head. If pushed forward, a simple majority vote could oust him from his position.
Adding to Mike Johnson’s woes, several Republican resignations have shrunk the slim 218-212 majority he had to start 2024. Reps. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Ken Buck of Colorado both announced they will resign from Congress in the coming weeks.
Their departures, along with an upcoming special election in New York to replace former Rep. Brian Higgins, will leave Republicans with just 217 seats, making it harder to get bills through the narrowly divided House. Any further Republican exits could complicate Johnson’s already tenuous hold on power.
While the Republican brand has undoubtedly been bruised by the turmoil, some political experts doubt the party would actively prompt a damaging changing of the guard by voting out Johnson right now. That could deal a major blow to their chances of re-taking the White House and Senate in 2024.
Still, Greene and her loyal MAGA faction have loudly staked out their insurrectionist positions against both Mike Johnson and anticipated G.O.P. presidential nominee Donald Trump. How far they’re willing to go to burn down the Republican establishment remains to be seen as the campaign season intensifies.
