Two Democrats Rescue Johnson's Floor Vote, 210-208

Two Democrats Rescue Johnson's Floor Vote, 210-208

The News

Two centrist House Democrats crossed the aisle Tuesday to pass a Republican procedural rule 210-208, rescuing Speaker Mike Johnson after five Republicans voted against him.

Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington supplied the votes that kept the House floor open.

Without the rule, Republicans could not have brought any of the week's legislation to a vote.

Timeline

Tuesday, Sept. 1

A group of conservatives revolted against the rule, leaving Johnson short of the votes to control his own floor, CNN reported.

Tuesday

The rule was adopted 210-208, with five Republicans opposed and Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez voting yes, according to Just the News.

Tuesday

The House also passed a continuing resolution funding the government through Dec. 11.

Reactions

House Democratic leadership was blindsided, The Hill reported, with Whip Katherine Clark saying the two votes came as a surprise.

The Hill called the move "highly unusual" for members of the minority, who almost never help the majority pass a rule.

The Daily Caller framed it as two Democrats saving Johnson from another floor shutdown.

What's Next

The rule unlocked floor time for a slate of GOP bills, including messaging measures Democrats oppose — among them a resolution condemning socialism.

Two people familiar with the matter told CNN that Golden's vote helped advance a bill he supports aiding lobstermen.

Whether Democratic leaders impose any consequences on Golden or Gluesenkamp Perez is unresolved.

More

Rule votes are normally party-line by iron custom: the majority provides every yes, the minority every no. That is why a handful of Republican defections can shut the floor down — and why two Democratic yes votes ended the standoff outright.

Both Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez represent districts where crossing party lines is a routine part of their politics.

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