Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky announced Wednesday that he will not support Speaker of the House Mike Johnson in his bid for another term as Speaker.
Massie made the remarks during an interview with Politico, signaling potential challenges for the House leadership race in the next Congress.
“I’ll vote for somebody else,” Massie stated. “I’ve got a few in mind. I’m not going to say yet.”
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Massie has been an outspoken critic of Johnson’s leadership, particularly over the Speaker’s decision to work with House Democrats on a significant spending bill just before the Christmas recess.
The move contradicted Johnson’s earlier pledge in September to avoid bringing a so-called “Christmas omnibus” bill 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
This isn’t the first time Massie has opposed Johnson.
In April, Massie supported Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s motion to vacate Johnson from the speakership role. The motion was overwhelmingly rejected by a 359-43 vote in the House.
Massie’s decision to withhold his support could complicate the Speaker’s race in the upcoming Congress, particularly if Republicans maintain a narrow one-seat majority.
The GOP is expected to hold a 216-215 advantage in the House for the first several months of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term.
This slim margin is due to Trump’s decision to appoint three Republican House members to roles in his administration and the resignation of Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, who failed to secure Senate confirmation for the position of attorney general.
No Republican lawmakers have officially announced plans to challenge Johnson for the Speaker’s gavel.
However, Massie’s opposition could open the door for other members to consider entering the race.
As expected, every Democratic lawmaker is anticipated to back House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in the speakership contest, ensuring that the race will hinge on Republican unity.
A fractured GOP conference could lead to difficulties in electing a Speaker, given the slim majority.
House lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the speakership on January 3, the first day of the new Congress.
Johnson, who has not yet faced any declared challengers, will need near-unanimous support from his Republican colleagues to secure another term.
The lack of a formal challenger does not guarantee a smooth path to reelection, especially given Massie’s vocal opposition and the GOP’s narrow margin.
The outcome of the speakership vote will be critical in shaping the legislative agenda of the 118th Congress, particularly as President-elect Trump begins his second term.
Republican leaders will need to navigate internal divisions to maintain a united front and effectively govern with a razor-thin majority.
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The rejection of this bill is a BIG deal. Johnson is properly seen as the villain.
I am OK with the house being paralyzed by a debate on a new speaker. It would block any huge actions this year.
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