Sens. John Kennedy, left, and Bill Cassidy, right, threw their public support behind fellow Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson for speaker. (Reuters)
Johnson also got the backing of the other member of Lousiana's Senate delegation, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. "I agree with President Trump that [Johnson] is the right man to lead. He’s a committed conservative and a man of integrity," he wrote on X, referencing President-elect Donald Trump's recent endorsement.
During the last-minute government-spending fight last month, most Republican senators were careful not to call for Johnson's replacement. However, that didn't stop others, such as Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, from suggesting that someone else would do a better job.
BERNIE SANDERS PLANS TO SPEARHEAD LEGISLATION ON KEY TRUMP PROPOSAL
Speaker Mike Johnson, left, and Rep. Thomas Massie (Getty)
Additionally, at least one Republican lawmaker is a "no," even after Trump's endorsement.
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"I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan," Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., wrote on X. "We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget."
The speaker vote is set to take place on Friday to set the new Congress in motion.
Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia's reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mike-johnson-gets-public-gop-senate-support-ahead-tight-house-speaker-vote