House Speaker Mike Johnson secured another two-year leadership term on Friday, despite Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie voting against him the gavel.
Republican Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas initially joined Massie in voting against the Louisiana Republican. However, Norman and Self switched their votes to Johnson before the vote closed.
The final vote was 218-215-1.
Massie was vocally critical of Johnson ahead of the vote, saying he’d rather have someone “pull all my fingers out” than vote for Johnson during an appearance on “The Matt Gaetz Show.”
Fellow Kentucky Republican Reps. James Comer, Brett Guthrie, Hal Rogers and Andy Barr backed Johnson, who was endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump.
Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who the House Democrats put forward as their candidate.
Last year, Massie joined Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia in a push to oust Johnson, but the effort failed as a motion to vacate was tabled by the chamber. Johnson was first elected speaker in October 2023 after a handful of House Republicans, joined by Democrats, ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: House speaker vote: Massie lone GOP ‘no’ vote against Johnson