Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is wooing his sharpest critics in the House GOP ahead of his official election for Speaker on the House floor, working to eliminate opposition and secure the strongest leadership mandate possible in a razor-thin majority.

In the latest development, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) — one of the leaders of an unsuccessful move to oust Johnson earlier this year — is no longer ruling out supporting Johnson for Speaker. The two chatted over the Thanksgiving break, and have been having conversations that appear to be leaving a positive impression on Massie.

“We’ve been talking,” Massie told The Hill when asked if he is still opposed to Johnson. “We talked last week.”

Massie cautioned that he is “not to the support levels yet.” But his openness to voting for Johnson is a major development, given his prior opposition. Earlier this year, Massie had said he would not vote for Johnson “come hell or high water.”

The Kentucky Republican’s softening on Johnson comes as the Speaker has also secured the backing of his most vocal former critic, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

Greene, the main leader of the failed motion to vacate earlier this year, confirmed on Wednesday that she will vote for Johnson to be Speaker in the Jan. 3 floor vote.

“Nobody’s running against him,” Greene told The Hill.

Greene had first signaled openness to supporting Johnson after the November election resulted in a win for President-elect Trump and Republicans in both chambers of Congress.

After a “productive” private meeting between the two last month, which The Hill first reported, Greene is now set to........

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