Following the expulsion of one Democrat from the Tennessee House of Representatives on April 6, a surprising vote left another of three individuals all expected to be expelled from the chamber remaining in her seat.
The vote was as close as it could get, with Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knox County retaining her seat by one vote. Only 65 of the required 66 votes to remove Johnson from her seat were received, with 30 people voting against the expulsion.
Cheers in the chamber and chants of “Gloria” were heard following the vote.
The vote tally was not immediately available, but following the expulsion of Rep. Justin Jones of Memphis a few hours earlier there were only 23 Democrats in the chamber, with some Republicans crossing the aisle in the second expulsion vote of the day compared to Jones’ strictly partisan vote….