Democrats prepare to ride to Johnson’s rescue, gingerly

House Democrats hinted Thursday that they were committed to passing a foreign aid supplemental package even if it meant helping Republican leaders get past usually party-line procedural hurdles — and potentially helping a GOP speaker keep his gavel.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is moving to set up Saturday votes on three bills that would send aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific. The measures would then be combined with a fourth bill comprising a hodgepodge of bipartisan priorities — many of which have previously passed the House — including sanctions on Russia and Iran and a modified version of a bill to force the sale of TikTok.

It’s unlikely Johnson has the Republican votes needed to adopt a rule that would provide for floor consideration of the four measures, given criticism from the party’s right flank. Democratic leadership has not explicitly committed to helping Johnson out on the rule, but said they would do what was needed to see the legislation across the finish line.