WASHINGTON DC (Michigan News Source) – All 13 Michigan congressmen and women, except for Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), voted alongside their counterparts from across the political spectrum on Wednesday evening, standing in solidarity to decisively save Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s position in the midst of a fervent push by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to unseat him.

How did Johnson get elected to be Speaker?

Johnson assumed the speakership position through unanimous election by Republicans in a party- line vote approximately seven months ago, amidst a tumultuous October marked by three weeks of disorder. During this period, Republicans struggled to reach consensus on a successor to wield the speaker’s gavel, subsequent to the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California by a faction of GOP lawmakers.

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In the end, former President Donald J. Trump had put his backing behind Johnson, saying that he would be a “GREAT SPEAKER.”

Republican support not there for Greene to remove the speaker.

Greene’s endeavor to oust Johnson lacked substantial backing within her own party, mustering just 11 Republican votes against blocking the motion to vacate, while a significant majority of Democrats also joined together to uphold Johnson’s leadership.

A motion to vacate is a formal proposal aimed at ousting the speaker by declaring the speakership position as empty. This procedural maneuver was seldom employed until the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The move to table Greene’s motion was spearheaded by Johnson’s mentor and key ally, Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) who moved to table to the motion.

Democrats vote with Republicans to save speaker.

Democrats lent their votes to thwart Greene’s maneuver, aligning with Johnson’s camp, in a surprising display of bipartisan cooperation. The resounding vote to quash Greene’s motion to vacate the speaker’s chair ended with a tally of 359-43, signaling a clear rebuff of her efforts. Only a handful of Republicans aligned with Greene, while a majority of Democrats, numbering 196, joined forces with 163 Republicans to oppose her motion.

Some GOP members were surprised that Greene went ahead with the motion to vacate after what was reported to have been two “successful” meetings between herself and Johnson on Monday and Tuesday. But Greene had told CNN, “Right now, the ball is in Mike Johnson’s court. We’re interested to see his actions, not his words.”

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One of Greene’s demands of Johnson was a commitment to the “Hastert Rule” which mandates that a majority within the majority must back all bills brought to the floor. Additionally, there were calls to defund Jack Smith’s special counsel investigation into former President Donald Trump and halt any further aid to Ukraine.

Speaker Johnson grateful for support.

Following the outcome of the vote on Greene’s motion to vacate, Speaker Johnson expressed gratitude for the display of confidence from his colleagues and emphasized the need to transcend divisive politics and focus on the nation’s interests.

During the decisive moment on the House floor, Greene’s attempt to initiate the privileged motion was met with disdain from her peers, symbolized by audible boos. Despite her assertions of representing the people against a perceived “uniparty,” the overwhelming response from both Republicans and Democrats showed a unified rejection of what many call a disruptive agenda.

While Johnson’s position has been secured, at least for the immediate future, the intervention of Democrats in preserving his leadership is likely to provoke consternation among conservative factions with the prospect of future challenges to Johnson’s authority remaining a possibility.

Michigan Reps respond to vote and their support of Johnson.

Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) had posted on X before the vote, “I will vote to table Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to vacate the office of the Speaker of the House. This is not a vote FOR Speaker Johnson. This is a vote to put an end to the chaos caused but the @HouseGOP. West Michigan sent me here to get things done. Let’s get back to work.”

Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) posted on X: “Marjorie Taylor Greene has no idea what it means to serve in a majority of one chamber of one branch of government. She is a failed leader who taunts students who survived school shootings, propagates conspiracy theories and is a scourge to her party and the country.”

Michigan Republicans in the House don’t appear to have made any statements about the vote as of yet, although there has been previous support shown for Johnson including from Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) who issued to following statement about Johnson when he was elected Speaker, “Today, the House Republican Conference reunited to elect a strong conservative, Mike Johnson, as the 56th Speaker of the House.”

He went on to say, “For nine months, House Republicans maneuvered with a historically small majority to pass the strongest border security ever, the Parents Bill of Rights, a comprehensive energy reform package, 70% of discretionary funding through single-subject appropriations bills, and much more. This critical work will continue under Speaker Johnson’s leadership, and we will resume our role as the voice of the American people and continue to deliver results.”