Blaze News investigates: 'Uniparty Speaker'? Mike Johnson bailed out in peculiar bipartisan vote — here's what happened



After dangling the threat over House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for over a month, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia finally pulled the trigger on May 8 and sought to oust him from the speakership.

But in a peculiar show of bipartisanship, the bulk of lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle joined together to spike the ouster effort in a 359-43 vote to table the matter.

"The Uniparty has spoken, and Mike Johnson is their speaker."

Only 11 House Republicans voted against the motion to table the issue: Greene, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Alex Mooney of West Virginia, Barry Moore of Alabama, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, Chip Roy of Texas, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Eli Crane of Arizona, Eric Burlison of Missouri, and Andy Biggs of Arizona. Thirty-two Democrats also voted against the motion to table, while seven Democrats voted present.

"The Uniparty has spoken, and Mike Johnson is their speaker," GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky declared in a written statement to Blaze News after the vote on Wednesday.

Johnson ascended to the speaker's chair last year after prior House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was booted from the post. Following the McCarthy ouster, the House GOP struggled to agree on a replacement before finally tapping Johnson for the role.

Back in March, Greene fired a warning shot when she filed a motion to vacate.

"The current Speaker has shown he cannot stand up to the Democrats. I filed a Motion to Vacate because it's time the American people have leadership in Congress that will fight for their values and stop funding the left's agenda," a tweet on Greene's @RepMTG X account declared at the time.

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In April, GOP Reps. Massie and Gosar cosponsored Greene's motion to vacate.

Then, in an April 30 statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) announced that if Greene sought to oust Johnson, they would vote to table the motion to vacate.

"We will vote to table Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's Motion to Vacate the Chair. If she invokes the motion, it will not succeed," the Democratic trio declared in the statement.

Greene indicated that she would seek to oust Johnson the following week.

During an interview on "60 Minutes," Jeffries said, "Even though we're in the minority, we effectively have been governing as if we were in the majority because we continue to provide a majority of the votes necessary to get things done."

Greene and Massie made four demands.

During a phone interview with Blaze News on Wednesday before Greene later took to the House floor and sought to oust Johnson, Massie characterized the four points as "suggestions," which he indicated were for the benefit of the GOP, the nation, and the institution.

One of the asks was for Johnson to follow "the Hastert Rule, which means no bills are brought to the floor unless the majority of the majority, which is the majority of Republicans, support it," Greene said during an appearance on Steve Bannon's "War Room" program.

They were also seeking the defunding or elimination of special counsel Jack Smith's "illegitimate prosecution" of former President Donald Trump, as well as an end of U.S. funding for Ukraine, Massie noted while speaking to Blaze News.

Another request was his "shutdown prevention plan," Massie noted, explaining that "instead of shutting down the government, have an automatic 99% [continuing resolution]" if the House fails to pass its 12 individual appropriations bills.

"He's ignored every warning. He continues to behave like he's representing the uniparty or doing Chuck Schumer's bidding," Massie said to Blaze News of Johnson, adding, "This week we've given him a chance to show us he will fight for our conference" and "principles," but "we don't see him doing that."

Shortly after Blaze News spoke to Massie, Greene took to the House floor and sought to oust Johnson, a move that was met by audible boos in the chamber.

The new motion to vacate that the congresswoman put forward on Wednesday laid out a lengthy list of grievances against the speaker.

In a post on X, Massie shared what he said was the "full text of" Greene's "motion to vacate the office of Speaker of the House." The text included statements such as:

  • "Mike Johnson cast the deciding vote against requiring a warrant for U.S. person queries of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Section 702 data."
  • "a two-part omnibus, split into two minibuses, was crammed down our throats and passed under suspension of the rules, with only one day to review it"
  • "By passing the Democrats' agenda and handcuffing Republicans' ability to influence legislation, our elected Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has aided and abetted the Democrats and the Biden administration in destroying our country."
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Greene and Massie have referred to Johnson as a "Uniparty Speaker," but other Republicans regard the speaker much differently.

In a statement responding to questions from Blaze News about whether he supported the speakership ouster effort and the four demands Massie and Greene had made, GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska — who was one of the 196 House Republicans who voted to table Greene's motion to vacate — described Johnson as an individual who is committed to "doing the right thing for" the nation.

"I oppose the efforts of two or three Republicans to vacate Speaker Johnson. He's an honest man and dedicated to doing the right thing for our country. He's being attacked for passing FISA, a budget and the Ukraine supplemental, all things that I and the vast majority in the House all supported," Bacon said in the written statement. "I'd give no concessions to 1.5% of the GOP who are making them. These individuals had the chance to vote and speak against these bills but it is not enough for them. They want to forbid the vast majority of the House from doing its will."

GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who instigated the removal of McCarthy from the speakership last year, was also among the bulk of Republicans who voted to kill Greene's effort, but in a tweet explaining his decision, Gaetz actually praised Greene, saying that she "made a truthful, compelling case against Mike Johnson" and "should be commended for this work."

"I voted to table the motion for one principal reason — with a two seat majority in an election year I believe 2-3 Republicans could be susceptible to bribes to resign or even vote for a Democrat. Democrats would then instantly deem Trump an 'insurrectionist' to bar him from the ballot," Gaetz said in the tweet. "House Republicans must do better. We must be led better. We must return Trump to the White House."

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Trump spoke highly of Greene in a post on Truth Social but expressed opposition to her move to target Johnson's speakership, calling the speaker "a good man who is trying very hard."

"I absolutely love Marjorie Taylor Greene. She's got Spirit, she's got Fight, and I believe she'll be around, and on our side, for a long time to come," the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee wrote. "However, right now, Republicans have to be fighting the Radical Left Democrats, and all the Damage they have done to our Country. With a Majority of One, shortly growing to three or four, we’re not in a position of voting on a Motion to Vacate. At some point, we may very well be, but this is not the time. We are leading in the Presidential Polls by a lot, both Nationally and in the Swing States."

"Likewise, we are doing well in the Senate, and I believe will do well in the House. But if we show DISUNITY, which will be portrayed as CHAOS, it will negatively affect everything! Mike Johnson is a good man who is trying very hard. I also wish certain things were done over the last period of two months, but we will get them done, together. It is my request that Republicans vote for 'THE MOTION TO TABLE.' We WILL WIN BIG — AND IT WILL BE SOON!" Trump concluded.

When speaking to Politico during an interview with the "Playbook Deep Dive" podcast, Johnson claimed that the Hastert Rule has not been violated during his speakership. He said that he does not anticipate any additional Ukraine funding requests prior to the end of the year.

The speaker, who said he thinks Trump will win the election, noted that he intends to remain in the speakership.

"Will the 'accidental' Speaker win in next Congress? Conservatives should ask themselves: Do you want a speaker who passes majority Democrats bills despised by a majority of GOP? If that's winning, it's hard to imagine how losing could be any worse," GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky tweeted, earning a retweet from Massie.

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'The Uniparty has spoken': House overwhelmingly spikes bid to oust Johnson from speakership



Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia sought to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson from the speakership on Wednesday, but the move was soundly rejected, with most House Democrats joining with most House Republicans to put the kibosh on the ouster effort.

"The Uniparty has spoken, and Mike Johnson is their speaker," GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said in a statement to Blaze News.

Overall, the vote was 359-43 in favor of tabling the motion to vacate, with seven voting present. While 196 Republicans and 163 Democrats joined together in the vote to table the matter, 11 Republicans and 32 Democrats opposed the motion to table.

"It’s a new paradigm in Congress."

The 11 Republicans who opposed tabling the motion included Reps. Greene, Massie, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Alex Mooney of West Virginia, Barry Moore of Alabama; Victoria Spartz of Indiana. Chip Roy of Texas; Paul Gosar of Arizona, Eli Crane of Arizona, Eric Burlison of Missouri, and Andy Biggs of Arizona.

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"It's a new paradigm in Congress. Nancy Pelosi, and most republicans voted to keep Uniparty Speaker Mike Johnson. These are the eleven, including myself, who voted NOT to save him," Massie tweeted.

Last week, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California had announced that if Greene sought to oust the speaker, they would vote to table the motion to vacate.

In a post on X, Massie shared what he said was the text of Greene's motion to vacate.

"Whereas, Speaker Johnson’s tenure is defined by one self-serving characteristic: When given a choice between advancing Republican priorities or allying with Democrats to preserve his own personal power, Johnson regularly chooses to ally himself with Democrats," a portion of the text reads, according to Massie's post.

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Cruz calls Greene's speakership ouster bid 'silly'; Johnson reportedly ​claims to be 'most conservative member' to be speaker



Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has criticized Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's (R-Ga.) bid to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from the speakership, describing it as "silly" and "seriously counterproductive" while calling Johnson "a strong conservative."

Cruz said that Greene's ouster effort "increases the chances of chaos" and of giving control over to Democrats. "And there is zero chance a more conservative speaker will result," he asserted during an interview on the "RealClearPolitics" radio show on SiriusXM, noting, "I think what she's doing is really unhelpful to the country."

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) have pledged to vote to table Greene's motion to vacate, saying in a statement earlier this week, "If she invokes the motion, it will not succeed."

Greene, who filed the motion to vacate in March, has noted that she plans to pull the trigger next week.

"I'm calling the motion to vacate Speaker Mike Johnson next week after weeks of warning Mike Johnson to stop giving Democrats everything they want," Greene said in a post on X. "The vote on the motion to table will essentially reveal the Uniparty in full. Vote YES to table the motion to vacate = Uniparty member," she averred. "Vote against tabling the motion to vacate = not Uniparty member."

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Axios reported that Johnson said, "I'm the most conservative member who has ever held the gavel as speaker, but the reality of our numbers is our challenge."

Greene responded in a tweet by posting six rolling on the floor laughing emojis and writing, "Most conservative except when you… fund the invasion of our country," "fund full-term abortion," "fund the trans agenda," "fund endless war," "break the tie for warrantless spying," "criminalize the New Testament," "are endorsed by Democrat leadership," and "spend more than Nancy Pelosi."

GOP Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Paul Gosar of Arizona are both cosponsoring the motion to vacate.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene to pull trigger on motion to vacate next week, targeting Mike Johnson for ouster from speakership



Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who targeted House Speaker Mike Johnson in March by filing a motion to vacate the speakership, indicated during a press conference on Wednesday that she plans to trigger a vote on the matter next week.

In a statement issued Tuesday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) pledged to "vote to table" the GOP congresswoman's motion to vacate, declaring, "If she invokes the motion, it will not succeed."

Greene said during the press conference on Wednesday that "Mike Johnson is giving them every thing they want."

"What we've seen here is the coming out of the uniparty," Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has cosponsored Greene's motion to vacate, said at the press conference. "And it will be consolidated, and it will be transparent and apparent next week to all Americans when this vote happens."

"Members have a weekend to decide whether to embrace the #Uniparty that became obvious in the U.S. House when Hakeem Jeffries and the entire Democrat leadership team announced they want to keep Mike Johnson," Massie tweeted.

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When NewsNation's Blake Burman mentioned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to Johnson, the speaker said, "Bless her heart." The interview was recorded Tuesday night, according to The Hill.

Burman asked Johnson whether Greene is a "serious lawmaker."

Johnson replied that he does not believe Greene is "proving to be, no."

GOP Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona has also cosponsored Greene's motion to vacate.

Johnson was tapped to serve as speaker last year after prior speaker Kevin McCarthy had been ousted from the post.

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House Democratic leadership pledges to vote to table motion to oust Mike Johnson from speakership



House Democratic leaders announced that if GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia moves to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from the speakership, they will vote to table her motion.

"We will vote to table Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's Motion to Vacate the Chair. If she invokes the motion, it will not succeed," House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California said in a statement.

Greene, who announced in March that she had filed a motion to vacate, responded to the Democratic announcement on Tuesday by indicating that she plans to force a vote on the matter.

"Mike Johnson is officially the Democrat Speaker of the House. Here is their official endorsement of his Speakership," Greene said in a tweet. "If the Democrats want to elect him Speaker (and some Republicans want to support the Democrats' chosen Speaker), I'll give them the chance to do it. I'm a big believer in recorded votes because putting Congress on record allows every American to see the truth and provides transparency to our votes. Americans deserve to see the Uniparty on full display. I'm about to give them their coming out party!"

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GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona have both cosponsored Greene's motion to vacate.

"Hakeem Jeffries vows to save Mike Johnson's Speakership. Why wouldn't he? Johnson has given the Democrats everything they want," Massie tweeted on Tuesday, adding the hashtag, "#UnipartyReveal." Massie noted in another tweet that Greene and he "will hold a press conference tomorrow at the Capitol triangle. Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Mike Johnson to remain as Speaker today. We will discuss how this affects the Motion to Vacate the #uniparty Speaker."

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House Adjourns Without Forcing Vote On Mike Johnson’s Speakership

'You might have thought we’d be working to secure our Southern border'

Threat to Johnson's speakership looms larger as Massie cosponsors Greene's motion to vacate



Last month, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia targeted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), filing a motion to vacate the speakership. Now, Greene is getting backup: GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has announced that he is cosponsoring the motion to vacate.

"I just told Mike Johnson in conference that I'm cosponsoring the Motion to Vacate that was introduced by @RepMTG. He should pre-announce his resignation (as Boehner did), so we can pick a new Speaker without ever being without a GOP Speaker," Massie tweeted on Tuesday. "He said he won't resign. I said to him that he is the only one who can prevent us from going through what happened last fall," Massie wrote in another post.

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Last year, after then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California was ousted from the speakership slot, Republicans struggled to select a replacement but eventually tapped Johnson for the role. McCarthy later chose to leave Congress.

On Monday, Johnson announced that the House will be voting on measures related to Ukraine aid, Israel aid, and more.

"Speaker Johnson is not holding Democrats accountable nor leading our Republican majority, he's actually giving in to Democrats every demand. And he's using dirty swamp tactics to push through the America Last agenda," Greene declared in a post on X.

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"Speaker Johnson must announce a resignation date and allow Republicans to elect a new Speaker to put America First and pass a Republican agenda. Thank you to @RepThomasMassie for cosponsoring my Motion to Vacate. It’s time for a new Speaker," Greene said in another tweet.

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