Speaker Mike Johnson might retain his position thanks to votes from Democrats, but his adversaries have indicated that their efforts to remove him will continue.
What Occurs After Johnson Survives A Motion To Vacate?
If Johnson manages to withstand a motion to vacate, it's hard to believe, but the situation in the House could become even more dysfunctional.
Massie hinted that additional efforts to oust Johnson could arise even after the initial one, requiring Democrats to actively choose to support him repeatedly.
This would also compel other members of Johnson’s conservative faction to vote in favor of a speaker backed by Democrats, potentially exposing them to criticism from their base.
“They will doom him. … They won’t save him. How is that sustainable?” Massie said. “If his speakership depends on Democrats it becomes harder for [Republicans] to vote for him in subsequent motions to vacate.”
If Johnson secures Democratic votes, he may lose support from Republicans. Democrats won't continue to intervene to protect Johnson repeatedly.
House Democrats will back Mike Johnson once because they haven't signaled that their support is permanent. In fact, they have expressed the opposite. They will assist Speaker Johnson on this occasion due to his actions regarding aid to Ukraine.
However, House Democrats won't consistently vote in favor of a Republican Speaker.
Furthermore, it is uncertain how many House Democrats are willing to support Johnson's continuation in office. The number could range from five to ten. It's not a substantial figure, so if a mass exodus of Republicans occurs, similar to Kevin McCarthy's situation, he will be finished.
Mike Johnson appears to be facing an inevitable fate. He will either rely on Democrats continuing to vote to retain him, or he can stave off a full rebellion by Republicans. Regardless, Johnson will emerge from this ordeal even weaker than Kevin McCarthy.
