Rep. Thomas Massie became the first Republican in the U.S. House Wednesday to declare he would not back 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 GOP leadership elections in January. Massie’s comments were first reported by Punchbowl News and Politico.
“I’ll vote for somebody else,” Politico quoted Massie as saying. “I’ve got a few in mind. I’m not going to say yet.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Massie’s comments came during a fight over passage of a bill that would keep the government’s doors open through March 14. Influencers like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have urged Republicans to defeat the bill, with Ramaswamy calling the bill “full of excessive spending, special interest giveaways & pork barrel politics.”
More: Kentucky’s attorney general backs Louisiana push to put Ten Commandments in schools
Massie has poked at Johnson previously, and has previously clashed with Republican leaders and President-elect Donald Trump as well.
Massie’s breakaway could be important because the GOP is expecting a slim 220-215 majority in the next Congress, which takes office Jan. 3.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Profile Northern Kentucky’s Rep. Thomas Massie: ‘Unlike any other Congress critter.’
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Thomas Massie won’t vote for House Speaker Mike Johnson
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
