McCarthy’s time in the House has been eventful, to say the least. But now he’s about to make more shockwaves.
And Kevin McCarthy makes a startling announcement that leaves Congress shocked.
After being ousted as House speaker in October, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has not had a pleasant time in Congress.
He’s repeatedly gone after the eight Republicans who voted to oust him and is now hinting at possibly retiring from the U.S. House next year.
“I got the holidays. I will talk to my family about the ideas of what is going forward, and then I will make a decision,” McCarthy said to CNN’s Manu Raju during an interview.
He also referred to the eight Republicans, as not real conservatives.
“I don’t believe them to be conservatives,” McCarthy told Raju.
New — Kevin McCarthy unplugged.
On the eight Republicans: "I don't believe them to be conservatives."
On Gaetz ethics probe: "He would throw his country away to try to protect himself from what would come out as the truth."
Also: McCarthy UNDECIDED about staying in House pic.twitter.com/6Pk833pv4v
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 12, 2023
The former speaker is up for reelection in 2024, so a decision to retire would have to come fairly soon.
“I always believe, and you hear me all of the time. You never give up in the process, right? Well, there’s so many ways you can do that to make sure you’re getting the job done,” McCarthy continued.
“And I’m going to look at all options.”
Raju inquired which option McCarthy was considering the most in regards to his retirement, but the congressman didn’t know.
And of the eight Republicans who ousted him, McCarthy was most angry with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) who led the effort to remove him from the speakership.
His disapproval and overall dislike of Gaetz may be a deciding factor in whether he decides to run again for his seat in Congress.
“It’s driven by Gaetz, and it was all based upon an ethics complaint that happened in the last Congress. He would throw his country away to try to protect himself for what would come out as the truth,” said Rep. McCarthy.
“Thoughts and prayers to the former speaker as he works through his grief,” Gaetz sarcastically said to CNN when he heard McCarthy’s comments about him.
Congressman McCarthy’s indecisiveness on running for reelection comes as a bit of a surprise considering that just a few weeks ago in late October, he had every intention of running for reelection.
McCarthy still plans to run for re-election, he tells me after Johnson named House speaker.
— David Sivak (@DISivak) October 25, 2023
But for now, his decision will likely be made by the new year once he has a chance to mull over his options over the upcoming holidays.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.