Kevin McCarthy’s speakership in jeopardy as nine House Republicans send stinging letter

Support for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to become the next Speaker of the House appears to be dwindling rapidly after nine House Republican members wrote a stinging letter warning that choosing him would represent a “continuation of past and current Republican failures”.

On Sunday, McCarthy met with members of the Republican Party in an attempt to rally support for his vote for the presidency on Jan. 3, when the new Congress takes office.

However, several Republican representatives, including Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Chip Roy of Texas, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andy Harris of Maryland, and Andrew Clyde of Georgia, along with elected representatives Andy Nogales of Tennessee, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Eli Crane of Arizona voiced their opposition to McCarthy’s candidacy and vowed to vote against him.

On New Year’s Eve, McCarthy wrote a letter titled ‘Restore the People’s House and end business as usual’, in which he admitted the dysfunction of the House of Representatives and his promise to correct it, but that did not fall fine with everyone. in the Republican Party.

“Unfortunately, however, despite some progress made, Mr. McCarthy’s statement comes incredibly late to address the continuing shortcomings before the opening of the 118th Congress on January 3,” the nine-member GOP letter wrote.

‘In this state, it is not surprising that expressions of vague hopes reflected in too many of the crucial points still up for debate are insufficient. This is especially true regarding Mr. McCarthy’s candidacy for speaker because the times call for a radical change in the status quo, not a continuation of past and present Republican failures,’ the letter said.

‘McCarthy’s statement also goes on to propose restricting the availability of the traditional motion to vacate the chair as a means of holding leadership to account for their promises; we have made it clear from the beginning that we will not agree to follow the example of Nancy Pelosi in isolating the leadership in this way,” the nine House Republicans said in their letter Sunday.

‘We also note that the statement does not fully address the issue of leadership working to defeat the Conservatives in open primaries. The progress made so far has been useful and should guide our thinking going forward.’

On New Year’s Eve, McCarthy wrote a letter titled “Restore the People’s House and end business as usual”, in which he admitted to the dysfunction of the House of Representatives and his promise to correct it.

Some far-right lawmakers within the party also say there must be a leadership shakeup.

McCarthy, a congressman from California, is facing an election challenge from Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs.

Biggs, along with Representatives Matt Gaetz of Florida, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Bob Good of Virginia and Matt Rosendale of Montana have publicly expressed their plans to vote against McCarthy in the January 3 election.

Four of the members are inside the House Freedom Caucus with the exception of Gaetz.

The five lawmakers have organized to try to prevent McCarthy from getting the 218 votes needed to take the gavel from outgoing Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They also vowed not to be individually attacked by McCarthy and said they would discuss any concessions he offers.

House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer said Sunday he would be “shocked” if Kevin McCarthy was not chosen by his party to become the next House speaker.

Asked if McCarthy has what it takes to be Speaker, Hoyer said: “We’ll see.”

Hoyer added that if McCarthy wins the election, it is proof that he can at least work against adversity.

“Obviously, if he gets 218 votes, he has the ability to pool the votes to be the leader of the Party,” Hoyer told CNN. ‘And then it will be tested whether or not he can lead.’

‘But, you know, he’s worked pretty hard on it. He got close to the Holy Grail and had to back away. He didn’t give up, he kept going. And it seems to me that he will be the Speaker.

Arizona Republican Party Rep. Andy Biggs has launched a candidacy against McCarthy for president, and he is joined by four other Republican lawmakers seeking to prevent McCarthy from winning.

Hoyer says he has a good “working relationship” with McCarthy.

Last week, McCarthy proposed a rule change that would make it easier to remove a House speaker, a demand by influential Republican opponents, in exchange for his own promotion to office.

Under current rules, only a member of the House leadership can start a motion to remove the Speaker, but McCarthy’s proposal would allow any member of the House to force a vote to remove the Speaker at any time.

Currently, only members of the House leadership can do so, under rules implemented by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat.

To secure the presidency, McCarthy needs at least 218 votes, but with the GOP’s slim majority in the House at 222 seats, any further defection could jeopardize his chances.

During his meeting with other GOP members, he acknowledged how rank-and-file members could call for the speaker’s removal, though it’s unclear how many members would have to sign the motion.

Earlier on Sunday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he would be surprised if Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was not picked by his party to become the next House speaker, but stopped short of saying if you are up to the task.

‘I’d be surprised if you don’t [win]’ Rep. Hoyer insisted on CNN’s State of the Union show Sunday morning. My expectation is that he will be the Speaker.

The new Congress will meet on Tuesday, January 3, and the Republicans will regain a majority in the lower house, but not in the Senate.