Thomas Massie becomes first Republican to publicly say he won’t throw support behind Mike Johnson for speaker

Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie told reporters Wednesday that he will not be supporting Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s bid for another term as speaker.

“I’ll vote for somebody else,” Massie told Politico on Wednesday. “I’ve got a few in mind. I’m not going to say yet.”

The Kentucky Republican is a fierce critic of Johnson and has torched the speaker’s decision to partner with House Democrats on a massive spending bill right before the Christmas recess despite previously committing in September to not bringing a ‘Christmas omnibus’ to the floor.

People call me “NostraThomas” for accurately predicting @SpeakerJohnson would use the Christmas recess to force a massive spending bill through Congress.

After claiming he would not, Johnson is embracing a D.C. tradition that’s nearly as old as decorating Christmas trees. pic.twitter.com/TRd1ZiCXtc

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 18, 2024

Massie previously voted in support of Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green’s motion to vacate Johnson from his speakership role in April, which House lawmakers decisively rejected in a 359-43 vote.

Massie’s decision to oppose Johnson’s bid for another term in the leadership role could throw the upcoming Congress’ speakership contest into chaos if Republicans hold a one-seat majority.

House Republicans could possess a 216-215 majority for the first several months of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term due to Trump’s decision to tap three House lawmakers to serve in his administration and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s resignation following his failure to secure Senate support to serve as the president-elect’s attorney general.

Every Democratic lawmaker is expected to vote for House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries in the speakership contest.

No Republican lawmakers have announced plans to challenge Johnson as speaker.

House lawmakers are set to vote on Johnson’s bid for another term as speaker on Jan. 3.

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