The impact the midterms could have on impeaching Pete Hegseth

WASHINGTON (CNN, KYMA) - The political future of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be on the line if Democrats win the House majority in this week's midterm elections.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has vowed to force a vote to impeach Secretary Hegseth when the House returns after the midterms in November.

Rep. Massie said Republicans may be compelled to vote Hegseth out once the pressure of supporting President Donald Trump and the GOP is off the table post-election.

If Democrats win the House, Massie is increasingly confident that there will be the bipartisan votes needed for impeachment, which just requires a simple majority.

It is unclear how Republican leadership will handle the issue after the election.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he would block a vote to impeach, calling the push "a stunt" and praising the Defense Secretary for "an extraordinary job."

President Trump praised Hegseth Thursday, calling the effort to impeach him "terrible."