Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' succession is "increasingly likely" and that Democrats would not back House Speaker Mike Johnson unless they get something in exchange.
The New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, "My vote would most likely be for a Speaker Jeffries, which becomes an increasingly likely reality day after day, as Republicans pursue further midterm resignations." She went on to say that she would not stand with someone who opposed women's rights.
Her remarks followed the House's passage of a budget plan on Friday in an effort to avert a government shutdown. The Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene moved swiftly to remove Mr. Johnson from the speakership.
To ensure that the three weeks of upheaval that followed the removal of previous House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October do not happen again, a number of House Democrats have said that they would back Mr. Johnson if a move to vacate were to be considered.
However, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez said that Democrats would not band together to back the Republican from Louisiana "for free."
"I do not believe we act in that way to show Republicans our sympathies. Furthermore, I believe that the realities of government exist. We want to ensure the continuation of responsible and effective government, which often occurs when there is a Democratic majority, the speaker said.
The speakership of Mr. Johnson may be at stake based on his vote on increasing funds for the conflict in Ukraine against Russia. The motion that Ms. Greene filed is "more of a warning," she said last week.
Ms. Greene told reporters, "I am not saying it will not happen in two weeks, or in a month, or who knows when, but I am saying the clock has started." "Our conference needs to choose a new speaker.”
The New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, "My vote would most likely be for a Speaker Jeffries, which becomes an increasingly likely reality day after day, as Republicans pursue further midterm resignations." She went on to say that she would not stand with someone who opposed women's rights.
Her remarks followed the House's passage of a budget plan on Friday in an effort to avert a government shutdown. The Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene moved swiftly to remove Mr. Johnson from the speakership.
To ensure that the three weeks of upheaval that followed the removal of previous House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October do not happen again, a number of House Democrats have said that they would back Mr. Johnson if a move to vacate were to be considered.
However, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez said that Democrats would not band together to back the Republican from Louisiana "for free."
"I do not believe we act in that way to show Republicans our sympathies. Furthermore, I believe that the realities of government exist. We want to ensure the continuation of responsible and effective government, which often occurs when there is a Democratic majority, the speaker said.
The speakership of Mr. Johnson may be at stake based on his vote on increasing funds for the conflict in Ukraine against Russia. The motion that Ms. Greene filed is "more of a warning," she said last week.
Ms. Greene told reporters, "I am not saying it will not happen in two weeks, or in a month, or who knows when, but I am saying the clock has started." "Our conference needs to choose a new speaker.”
