The Massachusetts Republican Party blasted state House Democrats on Wednesday for re-electing Rep. Salvatore DiMasi as speaker in spite of recent allegations of ethical misconduct.

DiMasi, a Boston Democrat, was re-elected with overwhelming support on Wednesday. DiMasi collected the votes of 135 of the 159 representatives that voted, including all but eight Democrats.

Barney Keller, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Republican Party, sharply criticized House Democrats for refusing to take a stand against DiMasi, who is currently facing federal grand jury and state Ethics Commission investigations.

"It's not surprising that ethically challenged Democrats would re-elect an ethically challenged speaker the day after he was non-committal on modest ethics reform," Keller said, referring to DiMasi's  response to Gov. Deval Patrick's ethics task force recommendations.

"There are important issues facing the commonwealth, and the last thing we need is the constant storm of Democrat scandal up on Beacon Hill," Keller added. "It's time to send the DiMasi Democrats packing."