The link is linear---every vote matters.
Eric Garcia 5/19, staff at the Independent, “Republicans will regret taking the easy way out on George Santos,” the Independent, 5/19/23, https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/house-republicans-george-santos-expulsion-b2341718.html
The effort to expel Mr Santos was always going to be a heavy lift. For one, progressive members like Reps Robert Garcia (D - California), Daniel Goldman (D - New York) and Ritchie Torres (D - New York) led the effort. Teaming up with left-wing Democrats, especially when Republicans are in the majority and they forced the vote, does not appeal to many Republicans.
Second, Mr McCarthy’s speakership is perpetually on thin ice and he needs every vote to maintain his gavel, especially as he engages in tense negotiations with the White House on the debt limit. Many conservative Republicans will likely scoff at any final agreement Mr McCarthy makes with the Biden administration, so he will need every other Republican (and some Democrats) to pass a final debt limit deal.