Texas Democrats Willing To Save Mike Johnson For Ukraine Aid

Texas House Democrats are open to rescue the U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on a motion to vacate introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) last month.

Some Democrats have expressed that they would likely support the Speaker if he “does the right thing” and manages to pass a $95 billion aid package targeting Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Gaza.

“I’m one of those who would save him if we can do Israel, Taiwan, Ukraine and some reasonable border security,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-San Antonio.

Far-right Republicans in the House have recently criticized Johnson for trying to pass aid to Ukraine, a motion that most far-right Republicans oppose. Greene filed a motion to vacate last month when Johnson helped push through a $1.2 trillion spending package with majority Democratic votes, threatening to bring the motion up for a vote if the House holds a vote on Ukraine aid.

But there is a reasonable number of democrats willing to save Johnson if he brings the Ukraine aid pack up to a vote.

If he’s willing to help out on Ukraine, and if he’s willing to do fair up and down votes on keeping the government open, then there’s no real reason why we would just oust,” U.S. Rep. Marc Vesey, D-Fort Worth said.

Other Texas Democrats who have expressed willingness to support Johnson, include Reps Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, Jasmine Crockett of Dallas, and Lloyd Doggett of Austin.

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) told Axios the House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said democrats are not going to punish anyone for doing the right thing.

However, it is possible that Johnson will not need the Democratic votes to keep his job. Some Republicans fear that if the House votes to oust Johnson, Jeffries could be elected as the new speaker

Last week, former President Donald Trump said at his Mar-a-Lago club that Johnson was doing a “very good job” and that he stood by the speaker.

“We’re getting along very well with the speaker — and I get along very well with Marjorie,” Trump said. Greene is also a key Trump supporter in the House.

Johnson has been a speaker for six months. He was elected after far-right GOP members and all Democrats voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California.