Move to oust Johnson on hold amid 2-week recess
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is facing an ouster threat from his own party just five months into his tenure.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., an ultraconservative lawmaker who has drawn criticism for promoting conspiracy theories, is leading the charge. Greene filed a motion to vacate against Johnson on March 22. It's a move that could boot Johnson from his position, challenging his leadership after he worked with Democrats to help pass a $1.2 trillion package to avoid a government shutdown.
If this all seems familiar, it's because we've been here before. Just five months ago, a few conservative lawmakers voted with Democrats in the House to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from his leadership post.
Here's what you need to know about Johnson, and where the push against his speakership could go next.
Johnson came to power on the heels of several failed votes to replace McCarthy last year. He ultimately secured the speakership because he was able to bring together right-wing and more moderate lawmakers.
The new speaker started in the House in 2017. He's currently serving his fourth term as representative for Louisiana's 4th Congressional District, which covers the Shreveport area.
Johnson has strong conservative credentials. He opposes expanding abortion rights in America and has advocated for hardline immigration reforms. He also previously fought against expanding LGBTQ+ rights.
Prior to entering politics, he worked as a constitutional lawyer and served in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He also served on Trump's defense team during both of his Senate impeachment trials.
Although Greene often supported McCarthy, for her fellow conservatives, Johnson was originally seen as a welcome departure from the former speaker. Some viewed McCarthy as too moderate after he worked with Democrats to avoid a shutdown and raise the debt ceiling last year.
But Greene had warned Johnson from the beginning that she would move to oust him if he crossed certain lines.
For example, she warned Johnson that she would try to remove him if he tried to pass certain funding for Ukraine as it continues to fight off Russia’s invasion.
Johnson has yet to put that funding up for a vote, as his focus was on the monthslong effort to fund the government. But with that out of the way, Johnson has said funding for Ukraine is one of his next priorities.
Cue Greene’s “warning” to Johnson that may put aid to Ukraine at risk.
Congress is on a two-week spring recess, so the motion to vacate remains in limbo for now. Greene did not force the resolution to be taken up by the House prior to the recess, arguing that she was laying the groundwork for a vote after Congress returns to Washington.
There is no vote currently scheduled. And unlike the vote to remove McCarthy, the fight to oust Johnson faces a larger uphill battle.
Many Republicans are simply not on board with the idea, still feeling the sting of the weekslong, arduous process to elect a new speaker of the House that froze the lower chamber last year.