Warring GOP factions strike deal to raise threshold to oust a House speaker, sources say

House Republicans have recently come to an agreement on raising the motion to vacate threshold, according to sources familiar with the discussion. Currently, House GOP Conference rules state that only one lawmaker is needed to call for a motion to vacate the chair, which would then trigger a chamber-wide vote on removing the speaker.

However, a new deal has been brokered during a meeting hosted by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and involving members from both the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and the pragmatic Main Street Caucus. This agreement would raise the one-person threshold to nine, providing more stability and accountability within the party.

In exchange for this threshold increase, Main Street Caucus members have agreed to withdraw several proposed changes to House GOP rules that would have penalized Republicans who vote against the majority. This compromise is a significant development, as the one-person threshold was originally part of a deal struck by ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in January 2022 to secure the gavel.

The repercussions of this threshold change were felt when Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., triggered a vote that led to McCarthy’s ouster by a coalition of House Democrats and eight Republicans in October 2023. This rule has also been a looming threat for Johnson since he took over as Speaker.

Moderate and rank-and-file Republicans have been advocating for the threshold increase since late last year, arguing that it would help curb chaos within the House GOP. On the other hand, hardline conservatives believed that the current rule empowered members outside of House Republican leadership.

It is important to note that the agreement is still tentative and subject to change. House Republicans are expected to vote on proposed changes to their conference rules soon, with the aim of solidifying the party’s unity and focus.

The news of this agreement comes shortly after Johnson secured a unanimous vote by House Republicans to continue serving as Speaker. This victory was not without its challenges, as conservative critics of Johnson’s foreign aid and government spending policies had initially threatened to delay his reelection by demanding a secret ballot vote. However, they ultimately backed off from this stance after the meeting.

Overall, this agreement marks a significant step towards internal cohesion and stability within the House Republican Conference. As the party prepares for upcoming challenges and opportunities, this compromise sets a positive tone for future collaboration and decision-making.