JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri State Board of Education has voted down an effort to fire the state’s top education official.

Members voted 4-4 Tuesday on the question of ousting Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven. Five votes were needed to remove her.

Republican Gov. Eric Greitens has been pushing for her removal but hasn’t elaborated on why. He’s filled five seats on the eight-member board, the majority needed to vote her out.

But the Tuesday attempt to ax Vandeven backfired. It was not immediately clear which of Greitens’ five appointees voted to keep her during the closed meeting.

Vandeven didn’t comment Tuesday. Greitens’ spokesman, Parker Briden, didn’t immediately respond to Associated Press requests for comment Tuesday.