Speaker-designate Mike Johnson, R-La., was re-elected to lead the House of Representatives on Friday.
The Louisiana Republican won along party lines during the first round of voting, a stark contrast to his predecessor’s drawn-out, 15-round battle in 2023.
It comes despite saber-rattling by some conservatives who threatened to withhold support from Johnson in protest of his handling of government funding and several other issues in the 118th Congress.
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Speaker Mike Johnson won re-election to lead the House of Representatives. (Getty/AP)
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who was part of an unsuccessful push to oust Johnson last year, was the speaker-designate’s most vocal critic leading up to the Friday vote.
He told former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on his new One America News Network program, “You can pull all my fingernails out, you can shove bamboo up in them, you can start cutting off my fingers.”
“I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow, and you can take that to the bank,” Massie said.
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Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is seen outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Other detractors included members of the House Freedom Caucus like Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who has expressed interest in chairing the influential House Rules Committee, the panel that directs terms for House-wide votes on legislation.
Johnson’s allies warned in return that a prolonged House Speaker fight could delay Congress’ joint session to certify President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, slated for Jan. 6.
President-elect Donald Trump backed Johnson for speaker again. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
Johnson also had a key backer in Trump, who emphasized his support for the GOP leader hours before the midday vote.
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“Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man…
