Rep. Thomas Massie on Wednesday became the first Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives to declare that he would not support House Speaker Mike Johnson for the post in the next Congress.
Massie’s spokesman Jonathan Van Norman confirmed to The Enquirer that Massie would not vote for the Louisiana Republican in January’s Republican leadership election. Massie’s comments were first reported by Punchbowl News and Politico.
“I will vote for someone else,” Politico quoted Massie as saying. ‘I have a few in mind. I’m not going to say that yet.”
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Massie’s comments came amid a fight over whether to pass a bill that would keep the doors of government open until March 14. Influencers such as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have urged Republicans to reject the bill, with Ramaswamy calling it “full of excessive spending and special interests.” giveaways and pork barrel politics.”
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Massie has previously teased Johnson, and has also previously clashed with Republican leaders and newly elected President Donald Trump.
Massie’s escape could be important as the Republican Party expects a narrow majority of 220 to 215 in the next Congress, which takes office on January 3.
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Profile Northern Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie: “Unlike any other congressional animal.”
This is a current news item and will be updated.
This article originally appeared on the Cincinnati Enquirer: Thomas Massie will not vote for House Speaker Mike Johnson
