In a surprising turn of events, the House of Representatives failed to pass the articles of impeachment against Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security. The final vote tally resulted in 214 votes in favor and 216 against, with Republicans joining every Democrat to vote down the motion. This unexpected outcome came as a blow to the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who just four years ago denounced single-party impeachments.
The Republican leadership had anticipated a different outcome and were confident in securing the necessary votes. However, their calculations were flawed as they underestimated the number of absentees on the floor. With a narrow majority in the House, every vote counts, and a miscalculation in presence played a significant role in this defeat. Initially expecting one Democratic absence, Congressman Al Green of Texas unexpectedly showed up to vote, altering the dynamics and reducing the margin for the Republicans to maneuver.
Out of the four Republicans who voted against the impeachment, one member, Blake Moore, did so for procedural reasons. The remaining three members, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tom McClintock of California, and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, voted against impeaching Mayorkas. However, it is anticipated that once the Republicans are at full attendance, they will have the required votes to impeach the Secretary of Homeland Security. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who has been absent due to illness and treatment, is expected to return in the coming weeks.
This defeat came alongside another setback for the Republicans. Immediately after the failed vote on Mayorkas, Speaker Johnson brought another bill to the floor—an aid package for Israel. However, this bill also failed to pass as Democrats opposed it, joined by a few far-right members who sought cuts to the aid package. Democrats argued for tying the aid to Ukraine, border security, and a Taiwan package. This separate failure demonstrated the challenges faced by the Republican majority in governing, particularly due to internal divisions.
Despite these back-to-back embarrassing losses, it is clear that the Speaker had hoped for a different outcome. The razor-thin Republican majority and divisions within the party continue to present hurdles for the implementation of the Speaker's agenda. Nevertheless, the Republicans are expected to regroup and, with the return of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, they may have the votes necessary to move forward with impeaching Alejandro Mayorkas. This ongoing drama on the House floor underscores the difficulties in achieving bipartisan consensus and highlights the challenges faced by the Republican majority in passing key legislation.
