House Republicans may have a narrower majority than that they had anticipated and due to that, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy could discover he has a harder highway to be House speaker.
Already, a handful of Republicans have introduced they are going to vote towards McCarthy’s bid to be speaker. He simply received the nomination for speaker inside the Republican convention, however he should nonetheless win 218 votes on the ground. CBS News tasks Republicans may have 221 seats within the new Congress, so he’ll want almost all of them, since all of the Democrats within the House are anticipated to help a Democrat for speaker.
Here are the Republicans who say they won’t help McCarthy’s bid to be the following speaker of the House:
Rep. Andy Biggs (Arizona)
Perhaps essentially the most vocal opponent to a would-be Speaker McCarthy is Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, who ran towards McCarthy inside the Republican convention for speaker. The secret-ballot GOP convention vote was 188-31.
Biggs has expressed frustration that McCarthy and Republicans aren’t doing sufficient to battle “radical Leftists” and are “failing to put the brakes on the Left.” That’s what Biggs wrote in a Nov. 18 op-ed within the conservative web site “American Greatness.” And at this level, he is saying he is not going to help him within the full House flooring vote.
“Now I am told that we will barely have a 3-seat majority, so we must not change leaders in order to protect unity,” Biggs wrote. “I, however, believe it is time to make a change. Those thoughts are most immutable. Our current candidate for Speaker doesn’t have the 218 votes necessary to become Speaker on January 3, 2023. I do not believe he will ever get to 218 votes, and I refuse to assist him in his effort to get those votes. In the end, I must concur with my constituents: it is time to make a change at the top of the House of Representatives. I cannot vote for the gentleman from California, Mr. McCarthy.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz (Florida)
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, one among former President Trump’s most dependable allies in Congress, agrees with Biggs. Gaetz has constantly voiced his opposition to McCarthy as speaker.
“Kevin McCarthy (Establishment-CA) is now reduced to threatening and pressuring incoming freshmen House members to vote for him,” Gaetz tweeted on Nov. 18, together with Biggs’ op-ed. “We have the votes to force a change.”
A day earlier than the House GOP convention election, Gaetz told “The Charlie Kirk Show,” “I’m not voting for Kevin McCarthy. I’m not voting for him tomorrow. I’m not voting for him on the floor.”
Rep. Ralph Norman (South Carolina)
Rep. Ralph Norman, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, advised Politico early this month that he is a tough “no” towards McCarthy as nicely. But Norman advised the news outlet he’ll both vote “present” or not attend the vote, which might be much less damaging to McCarthy’s prospects. If a number of the Republicans who oppose McCarthy select Norman’s path, they might decrease the edge McCarthy must attain as a result of the quantity making up a majority could be decrease than the 218 he’d want if all 435 lawmakers voted sure or no. Norman cited McCarthy’s method to the price range and nationwide debt, suggesting the House minority chief would not have an aggressive sufficient method to get the nation’s fiscal home so as.
In 2021, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi received the speakership with 216 votes after three Democrats voted “present.”
Other doable “no” votes
They aren’t the one ones indicating opposition to McCarthy.
While they have not stated they’re sure to vote towards McCarthy, Reps. Bob Good of Virginia and Matt Rosendale of Montana have voiced severe considerations, and maintain the ability to tank McCarthy’s possibilities.
Rosendale issued a press release after the convention vote accusing McCarthy of wanting “to maintain the status quo, which consolidates power into his hands and a small group of individuals he personally selects.” He continued, “We need a leader who can stand up to a Democrat-controlled Senate and President Biden and unfortunately, that isn’t Kevin McCarthy.”
The vote will happen Jan. 3 on the House flooring.
