The U.S. House hasn’t been short of drama lately. But now things are only going to get more intense.
And Congressional Republicans are rattled after what Kevin McCarthy just announced.
Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has experienced quite the rollercoaster ride after his ousting as House Speaker.
Despite having to vacate the position, McCarthy is still receiving support from allies to be re-nominated as a candidate for the speakership.
Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), and John Duarte (R-CA) represent some of these allies in the House whose intentions are to get McCarthy back in power as Speaker.
According to the New York Post, pro-McCarthy congress members have also implied that many Republicans would rather the former House Speaker hold the gavel instead of Steve Scalise (R-LA) or Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Both Jordan and Scalise are considered to be the top two candidates in the running at the moment.
But now, McCarthy has indicated to his allies that he wants them to stand down in their efforts to re-nominate him.
Even if Kevin McCarthy was onboard with the plan to bring him back as House Speaker, it is unlikely that he’d get enough votes to win.
“I doubt he gets 60 to 80 votes,” a congressional aide said.
Another source told The Post that, “A lot of the hard McCarthy people already committed to Jordan.”
U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) who had been an ally of McCarthy’s, posted on X, “I’m not involved in any effort in include Rep. McCarthy on the ballot.”
I’m not involved in any effort to include Rep. McCarthy on the ballot. https://t.co/aUzDPcc5fU
— Rep. Garret Graves (@RepGarretGraves) October 10, 2023
No love has certainly been lost over this whole ordeal.
McCarthy and his friends in Congress still seem to be bitter over the fact that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) led the motion to oust the former Speaker.
“Is our conference just going to select somebody to try to throw them out in another 35 days if eight people don’t get 100% of what they want?” Congressman McCarthy said in reference to Gaetz’s motion.
“[If] you allow eight people to continue to do that with no consequences – no one’s going to be successful.”
Kevin McCarthy has likely had enough of the infighting within the Republican party.
While deep down he would like to hold the gavel again, he knows it would be a lost cause that would only bring about more turmoil in the House chamber.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
