Politics in Washington has never been particularly quiet, but what happened on the House floor in March 2025 was a different level of loud. If you were looking for the Al Green censure vote count, you likely saw the numbers: 224 to 198. It wasn't just a dry tally of "yeas" and "nays," though. It was a moment where decorum and raw political protest collided in a way we rarely see inside the Capitol.
Rep. Al Green, the 77-year-old Houston Democrat, found himself at the center of a firestorm after he decided to heckle President Donald Trump during a joint address to Congress. This wasn't just a quiet grumble from the back row. Green stood up, brandished a cane, and started shouting at the President.
The Numbers: Breaking Down the Al Green Censure Vote Count
The final tally on H. Res. 189 was 224-198-2. That last "2" represents the "present" votes, one of which came from Green himself. Honestly, the most surprising part for most people wasn't that Republicans voted to censure him—that was a given. It was that ten Democrats joined them.
Think about that for a second. In a Congress where parties rarely agree on what time of day it is, ten members of Green's own party decided his behavior crossed a line. These weren't just random names; they were mostly moderates from swing districts like Ami Bera, Jim Himes, and Chrissy Houlahan. They were basically saying that even if you hate the message, the method matters.
Here is how that vote really shook out:
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- Republicans: Total "Yea" votes (every single Republican present).
- Democrats: 198 "Nay" votes, but 10 broke ranks to vote "Yea."
- Present: 2 (Al Green and Shomari Figures).
- Not Voting: 8 members were absent or skipped it.
Why Did the House Censure Al Green?
It all started on a Tuesday night. Trump was at the lectern, mid-speech, talking about how the November election gave him a governing mandate. Green wasn't having it. He stood up, shaking his cane toward the dais, and yelled, "You have no mandate!" specifically referring to proposed cuts to Medicaid and Social Security.
Speaker Mike Johnson didn't hesitate. He ordered the Sergeant at Arms to remove Green. It was a scene you’d expect from a rowdy parliament overseas, not the U.S. House of Representatives. Green was escorted out, but he didn't exactly go quietly, telling reporters afterward that he’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Republicans, led by Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, moved fast. They introduced the censure resolution the very next day. They called it a "breach of proper conduct." To them, the House isn't a place for heckling; it’s a place for legislative business. But to Green, it was a "question of conscience."
A History of Public Reprimand
Censure is basically the House's version of a public shaming. It doesn't kick you out of office, and it doesn't take away your right to vote. It just means you have to stand in the "well" of the House while the Speaker reads a resolution telling the world exactly what you did wrong.
Green became the 28th person in U.S. history to be censured. He joined a list that has grown much faster lately. We've seen Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, and Adam Schiff all get hit with the same thing in recent years. It’s becoming a common tool in the political shed, which some experts argue is devaluing the whole process.
The Scene on the Floor
When it came time for the actual censure to be read, things got even weirder. Instead of a somber moment of reflection, about 30 Democrats stood in the well with Green. They didn't just stand there; they started singing "We Shall Overcome."
Speaker Johnson was visibly frustrated. He had to call a recess because the singing was drowning out the official business. It was a bizarre mix of a 1960s civil rights protest and a 2026 partisan brawl.
What This Means for You
You might think, "Okay, a guy got yelled at for yelling. So what?" But the Al Green censure vote count is a signal of how thin the ice has become in Washington. When the rules of decorum break down, the ability to actually pass laws usually follows.
If you are following this because you care about Medicaid or Social Security, Green’s protest was a flare sent up to warn about upcoming budget battles. If you are following because you care about the "rules of the game," then this was a moment where the referee finally blew the whistle.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
- Watch the Budget: The core of Green's protest was about Medicaid and Social Security. The censure happened, but the fight over those programs is just beginning in the current session.
- Monitor the Moderates: The 10 Democrats who voted for censure are the ones to watch in 2026. They are clearly trying to distance themselves from the more "activist" wing of the party to keep their seats in purple districts.
- Check the Congressional Record: If you want to see exactly how your own representative voted, you can look up Roll Call 62 on the Office of the Clerk’s website. It’s the only way to be 100% sure where they stand on House decorum.
The fallout from this vote isn't over. Some Republicans, like Rep. Andy Ogles, have already threatened to try and strip committee assignments from the Democrats who stood and sang with Green. Whether that actually happens remains to be seen, but the tension in the chamber is definitely at a boiling point.
To get a full picture of the current political climate, you should look into the upcoming House budget hearings. These sessions will reveal if Green’s "no mandate" message has any legs or if the Republican majority will move forward with the cuts he was protesting against.
Actionable Insight: Keep a close eye on the 119th Congress's "decorum" rules changes. Leadership is currently discussing stricter penalties for floor disruptions, which could make the Al Green incident the last of its kind before much harsher rules take effect. For the most direct updates, follow the House Committee on Ethics and the Speaker's official press releases.