Posted on 11/21/2022 9:14:14 PM PST by SeekAndFind
As Republicans make plans for taking control of the House of Representatives in January, members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus are warning that Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who won the GOP’s nomination for Speaker of the House last week, may not actually have enough votes to earn him the Speaker’s gavel.
Just because he won the Republican nomination doesn’t mean Kevin McCarthy automatically becomes Speaker; he essentially needs the backing of every GOP House member when the entire chamber votes early next year. Here are the numbers:
Freedom Caucus member Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has been one of the most vocal opponents of McCarthy’s ascending to the speakership. He appeared on Dana Loesch’s radio show today and confirmed that McCarthy is short of the votes he needs, tweeting:
That’s correct. He is nowhere near 218. https://t.co/2JXDUCbn21
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) November 21, 2022
Biggs, himself, confirmed to Dana that he is still in the running to become Speaker, having been nominated by fellow Freedom Caucus member Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) last week in a speech ahead of the GOP speaker vote:
“You’re not going to change anything if you keep doing the same stuff. That’s the truth.” “Will Republicans stand for change? Or will Republicans stand up for the continuation of the status quo?” “The status quo ain’t working.”
Roy’s comments are in line with Biggs’ own complaints about House Republicans, led by McCarthy as Minority Leader, failing to take aggressive action on an agenda that excites American voters. As RedState reported last week, Biggs stated:
“… I think Americans want us to actually bring the budget under control, they wanted to secure the border, they want us to just find a way to reduce oil and gas prices, attack inflation, all of that. And you can’t do that by being a passive sideliner or sitting there acquiescing to the Biden administration or trying to get along, you’re going to have to be tough.”
According to The Hill, a “Never Kevin” faction is growing in the GOP ranks, with Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) saying, “The hard thing for Kevin, realistically, is there are a fair number of people who have said very publicly they’re ‘Never Kevin.’ Like, there’s nothing that Kevin can do to get their vote.” This should be very concerning for Kevin McCarthy.
Interestingly, the Speaker of the House does not have to be a sitting member, meaning anyone could, conceivably, be elected. Even former representative Justin Amash, who came out of the woodwork to express his desire to be a “nonpartisan” Speaker of the House:
If neither party has the votes to elect a speaker of the House, I’d be happy to serve as a nonpartisan speaker who ensures the institution works as it’s supposed to—a place where all ideas are welcome and where outcomes are discovered through the process, not dictated from above.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) November 15, 2022
Kevin McCarthy, who is backed by former president Donald Trump and the recently reelected Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), isn’t likely to create an opening for someone like Amash to be a spoiler. After winning the nomination last week, McCarthy said, “Look, we have our work cut out for us. We’ve got to have a small majority. We’ve got to listen to everybody in our conference.”
In an effort to shore up support in his conference, McCarthy seems to be setting his sights on issues important to the more conservative members of his party. He is vowing, for instance, to “move meetings” to the border “so the Democrats can no longer ignore the problem, so the American public can actually have the information.” A move that certainly seems to align with the Freedom Caucus agenda. And there are sure to be more as he works toward that critical 218 number.
We’ll find out on January 3 if his efforts are successful.
Only 219 seats for the GOP in the House? That’s a fairly dismal performance even if you exclude the high expectations.
Maybe McCrooked can buy some more votes with his FTX dirty money
McCarthy has thrown cold water on several occasions on the idea of impeaching Biden. Could be that riled up a few more people than just us on FR.
I’m no fan of McCarthy but if the GOP F—ks this up, then i’m done. Go out and grow bonsai trees or something.
McCarthy will cut a deal with the DemonRats. Only question is: what is the price to be paid?
You’d have to be a fool or a traitor to throw it to the Democrat. Pelosi, again?
Or he’ll make a deal with the democrats. Give me some votes and I won’t go after hunter, Joe, stops funding Ukraine, won’t try and do something about the border.
Basically, cave to everything the Democrats want.
It was barely a ripple. Once the Hobbs decision came down, many women (single women) voted D.
222.
Maybe true, but Republicans are on pace to win 222 seats.
Pubbies cannot politically afford to open the House January 3 without a designated speaker.
They will ‘vote’ in caucus before then and know who their designatee is before January 3.
The disarray is just media hype.
That wasn’t it the rats always get a big majority of single women. Mail voting and illegal harvesting is what did it. Abortion did help move many races into to cheat range.
Is Kevin on thin ice?
Best news of the week, IMHO...
Matt Gaetz or Jim Jordan are among the only two fighters in the House. The rest sit around and collect their $200,000 salaries.
Sorry no such thing as non partisan politician, Justin
With such a slim minority no Republican can win 218 votes, so they better settle on someone or Pelosi will end up Speaker again because five Republicans will keep their high ethics and vote for someone besides McCarthy letting Pelosi laugh right back to the podium.
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