Rep. Paul Gosar Becomes Third Republican to Support Effort to Remove Speaker Mike Johnson

Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar has become the third Republican to support Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's proposal to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson. Gosar cited opposition to Ukraine aid and illegal border crossings as reasons for his support of the motion to vacate the speakership. This comes as Johnson has relied on Democratic votes to advance a multi-part foreign aid plan, which has drawn criticism from some conservative Republicans.

Reps. Greene and Thomas Massie have also co-sponsored the motion to vacate, arguing that Johnson has broken his promise to secure the US border before passing funding for foreign aid. However, they have not yet taken steps to force a floor vote on the resolution. Conservative lawmakers, including Rep. Chip Roy and Rep. Eli Crane, have criticized Johnson for relying on Democratic votes to advance foreign aid bills, particularly related to Ukraine and border security.

While some Republicans, like Rep. Dan Bishop, have expressed frustration with the GOP leadership, others, such as Rep. Bob Good and Rep. Ralph Norman, have opposed ousting Johnson before the upcoming election in November, citing the slim Republican majority in the House. The speaker has faced growing threats to his speakership due to his handling of the foreign aid legislation, and there was a heated discussion on the House floor on Thursday, where Johnson was urged not to raise the threshold required to trigger the procedure to remove him as speaker.

Why this matters: The effort to remove Speaker Mike Johnson highlights the growing divide within the Republican Party over issues such as foreign aid and border security. The outcome of this power struggle could have significant implications for the party's direction and legislative priorities leading up to the 2024 elections.

The House is expected to vote on final passage of a $95 billion foreign aid package, which includes aid for Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific region, on Saturday. Johnson has stated that he will not change the procedure for removing him from the speakership, despite facing increasing pressure from conservatives in the House. The speaker continues to have the support of former President Donald Trump, but the threat to his leadership position remains a contentious issue within the Republican Party.

Key Takeaways

• Rep. Paul Gosar supports motion to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson.
• Gosar cites opposition to Ukraine aid and border crossings as reasons.
• Johnson relies on Dem votes to advance foreign aid, angering some GOP.
• GOP divide over foreign aid and border security could impact 2024 elections.
• Johnson faces growing threats to speakership, but has Trump's support.