Third GOP Rep Joins Motion To Vacate Speaker Johnson

Rep Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has joined Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene's (R-GA) motion to vacate House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), becoming the third Republican to sign onto the petition, after Greene and Rep Thomas Massie (R-KY).

• As the Republican House majority is set to shrink to a single vote if Rep Mike Gallagher (R-WI) departs Congress as planned next week, Gosar's vote means Johnson would be booted from the job if a vote goes ahead, and Democrats decline to step in to protect him.
• Gosar cited a surge in migrant crossing at the US-Mexico border as his justification, signing immediately following the House vote to advance the USD$95 billion national supplemental package.
• Democrats are likely to prevent a rebellion against Johnson at least once in return for moving Ukraine aid, but that support could become untenable if rebels repeatedly file new petitions.
• The political implications of ousting Johnson are unclear and a new speaker vote could be even more acrimonious than the three-week grind which followed the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October last year.
• There is no clear successor who could appear the various Republican factions. The House Freedom Caucus is reportedly resistant to support the move as it could lead to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) - seen as less conservative than Johnson - winning a vote.
• Former President Donald Trump has also warned against a rebellion against Johnson, fearing the ensuing chaos in the House could negatively impact his presidential campaign.