House Speaker Mike Johnson‘s (R-LA) protection from a motion to vacate the speakership could prove to be his biggest liability politically as it relies on support from his opposition.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted more than four months ago after a group of eight Republicans were boosted by the entire Democratic caucus in the successful motion to vacate. The initial move to remove McCarthy came after he cut a deal with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown, a move hard-liners considered a betrayal. The ensuing three weeks of attempting to elect a speaker paralyzed the chamber during a pivotal time, but the House eventually ended up with Johnson as speaker.