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.
Massie told radio talk show host Dana Loesch Wednesday that he has a lot of grievances against Johnson.
For instance, Johnson supported almost $100 billion worth of aid for Ukraine and other countries this spring. The firebrand Kentucky lawmaker’s latest complaint: the proposed short-term government spending bill that’s roughly 1,557 pages long.
The bill 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.”
“Mike Johnson just gave me another 1557 reasons not to vote for him. It’s this omnibus bill,” Massie said.
The bill was proposed as lawmakers are preparing to head home for the holidays and just days before an expected vote to keep the government from shutting down.
“We get the same lump of coal right before Christmas every single year,” Massie said. “They will literally tell you, ‘If you don’t vote for this steaming pile of poo, you’re gonna be here over Christmas break.'”
He told Loesch there are plenty of other lawmakers who would be better for the job than Johnson. He won’t reveal who he supports, he said, because he wants to protect the person from unnecessary headwind – at least for now.
“I’m going to try to put a stick in the spokes of this bicycle,” Massie said.
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.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
ProfileNorthern Kentucky’s Rep. Thomas Massie: ‘Unlike any other Congress critter.’
