House Speaker Mike Johnson narrowly avoided being removed from his position, largely due to the backing of House Democrats.

On Wednesday, the House voted to set aside Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to remove Johnson from his role, with both Republicans and Democrats supporting this decision.

Although 11 Republicans sided with Greene’s motion, the majority of representatives, totaling a 359-43 vote with seven Democrats abstaining, upheld retaining Johnson as House Speaker.

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This vote came unexpectedly, as Greene had initially withdrawn her threat on Tuesday but then resurfaced with a surprise attempt to unseat Johnson on Thursday.

Democratic Support

Despite predictions that Greene’s effort would fail due to lack of support from her own party, Democratic leaders stood firm in their decision to support Johnson, citing a need to prevent disruption within the House.

While most Democrats aligned with their leadership’s stance, some disagreed, arguing that Johnson’s political ideology should not be endorsed without concessions from their party.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York emphasized the importance of sending a clear message against what she termed Johnson’s “extremism.”

The future of Greene’s attempts to challenge Johnson remains uncertain, leaving questions about potential further votes on his removal.

To read more and to see how House Democrats voted, click here.