House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-Va.) is distancing himself from threats by two Republican insurgents to oust Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from power.
Goode told reporters Thursday that the “appropriate” time to choose new House Republican leadership would be in November. Traditionally, a closed election to choose a new party leader is held during the same month following the election.
The Virginia Republican joins eight House Republicans who joined Democrats in voting in favor of expelling Johnson’s predecessor, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), in October 2023. It was one of us.
‘Definition of insanity’: Disgruntled House Republicans blast Republican insurgents’ threats to oust Johnson
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (right) distanced himself from calls for the ouster of House Speaker Mike Johnson (left). (Getty Images)
“I think there’s a lot of dissatisfaction within the Republican Party. I think the Speaker has guaranteed that there will be a speaker election in November. Hopefully, if you’re sitting with 216 seats, that’s the smart thing to do. I think it’s a 213 margin,” Good said.
Goode has been one of the most vocal critics of Johnson’s leadership, especially when the speaker has had to reach across the aisle to pass important legislation. But his reluctance to accept calls for Mr Johnson to step down shows a general wariness among members of Mr Johnson’s right of experiencing the same three weeks of turmoil as last year.
When asked to clarify whether he would not support if his fellow Republicans triggered a vote to expel Johnson, known as a motion to vacate, Goode said: “I would only support the members who said they would support a motion to vacate.” I don’t know. I don’t support it in any way.” said. “
“I think November is the right time to hold that contest,” he said.
Johnson likely to be forced to seek support from Democrats on foreign aid plan as Republicans criticize lack of border measures
House Republicans are grappling with a push by Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie to remove Speaker Johnson. (Getty Images)
He said the House Republican majority is smaller than it was in October, when Republican insurgents ousted Mr. McCarthy, and that Mr. Johnson’s status as a relative newcomer leaves some feeling uneasy about the former speaker and his leadership. He reasoned that there was a problem that lawmakers had been having for a long time.
This comes after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) earlier this week threatened to trigger a vote to oust Mr. Johnson over his foreign aid program unless he voluntarily withdraws. That’s what it means. He is currently co-sponsoring a motion to override a resolution introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a vocal critic of Johnson’s leadership.
Good, who has not been close to Greene since she was expelled from the Freedom Caucus and criticized the Republicans for ousting McCarthy, asked whether she thought Greene’s attacks on Johnson were misplaced. was not mentioned.
Massey threatens to oust Johnson if he doesn’t resign over foreign aid plan
Good was one of eight Republicans who ousted former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Let me point out that … the two members who signed it are members who were very critical of holding previous speakers accountable,” Good said. “So I think this is a conversation for them about what’s different today compared to the behavior that was critical a year ago.”
He continued, “What I want to point out is that the gap is much narrower, and a year ago when they were saying, “Oh, they might elect a Democratic chairman,” that was just dishonest. It’s a much more precarious position to pursue… now. ”
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Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying he would not support efforts to change the motion to nullify the rules.
“Since the beginning of the 118th Congress, the House rules that allow single-member motions to vacate have hurt this office and the House majority,” he said. “Recently, a number of members of Congress have encouraged me to support new rules to raise this standard. I understand the importance of the idea, but changing the rules requires a majority of the entire House. But we don’t have that.”
“We will continue to govern based on existing rules,” he said.
