Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) voiced his support for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday, urging House Republicans to end internal disagreements and focus on crucial national issues. Kemp’s statement came despite growing threats to oust Speaker Johnson over recent policy decisions.
In a social media post, Kemp emphasized the need for Republicans to prioritize their responsibilities and avoid internal conflicts that could jeopardize their control of the House.
He stated, “Instead of bickering amongst themselves and handing Democrats control of the House, Republicans should do their damn job and vote on the important issues facing our nation. Enough is enough. I support @SpeakerJohnson.”
Governor Brian Kemp (Credits: ABC News)
Kemp’s remarks were prompted by a post from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who publicly backed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) motion to remove Johnson from the Speakership.
Massie’s announcement followed Johnson’s proposal to advance foreign aid legislation through the House, omitting border security provisions despite previous demands from GOP members.
Explaining his support for the motion, Massie cited Johnson’s handling of various legislative matters, including Ukraine aid, government funding, and surveillance authority reauthorization.
However, neither Massie nor Greene has indicated when they might introduce a motion to vacate resolution. Given the GOP’s slim majority, Johnson would likely need Democratic support to retain his position. Some Democrats have expressed willingness to support Johnson if he brings Ukraine aid legislation to the floor.
Brian Kemp (Credits: ABC News)
Despite growing discontent within the party, several GOP lawmakers criticized the effort to remove Johnson, arguing that it would be unsuccessful and counterproductive.
Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) emphasized the challenges of securing a majority vote for a new Speaker, while Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) denounced the motion as unnecessary and detrimental to governing.
The internal divisions among Republicans come despite recent leadership turmoil in the House, culminating in the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) due to disagreements over government funding and other policy issues. The subsequent infighting within the GOP has left the House without a permanent Speaker for nearly three weeks.
