Republican U.S. House to open in turmoil as McCarthy fights for gavel
Send a link to a friend
[January 03, 2023]
By David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The new Republican-held U.S. House of
Representatives convenes on Tuesday for what could be a chaotic election
for speaker, as top Republican Kevin McCarthy fights to overcome
opposition from hardline conservatives and win the powerful position.
A protracted speaker election could undermine House Republican hopes of
moving forward quickly on investigations into Democratic President Joe
Biden's administration and his family, as well as on legislative
priorities involving the economy, U.S. energy independence and border
security.
After four years as the Republican minority leader, McCarthy now needs
at least 218 votes to succeed Democrat Nancy Pelosi as speaker. With 222
seats, the Republicans have a slim nine-seat House majority, but several
party members vocally oppose him.
On Sunday evening, Republican lawmakers who were prepared to vote
against McCarthy numbered in the double digits, according to a source
familiar with the situation.
No Democrats are likely to vote for McCarthy, so he does not yet appear
to have enough votes to secure the job that would allow him to set the
House legislative agenda and put him second in line for the presidency,
behind Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Jan/03/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
This could set the stage for hours of votes when the 118th Congress
begins meeting at midday EST (1700 GMT). McCarthy easily won his party's
backing for the speakership in November.
Asked on Monday whether he had the votes, McCarthy, who failed to win
the speakership in 2015, told reporters at the Capitol: "I think we're
going to have a good day tomorrow."
The California Republican met late on Monday with hardliners and
supporters, but there was no immediate sign of a breakthrough. House
Republicans are expected to meet face-to-face behind closed doors on
Tuesday morning, ahead of the speaker election.
Representative Don Bacon, a McCarthy supporter, wrote on the online
conservative news website Daily Caller that he could reach across the
aisle to find Democratic support for an unidentified Republican
candidate if hardliners did not to relent.
While Republicans have won back the House, Democrats still hold the
White House and Senate. Standoffs are expected over must-pass
legislation to keep the government open, fund the military and address
the U.S. debt ceiling.
McCarthy faces a long-shot rival bid from hardline conservative
Representative Andy Biggs. Along with Biggs, Republican Representatives
Matt Gaetz, Bob Good, Matt Rosendale and Ralph Norman oppose electing
him speaker.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Jan/03/images/ads/current/charrons_bch_2022.png)
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/010323PIX/news_d5.jpg)
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy
speaks to reporters following a meeting with U.S. President Joe
Biden and other congressional leaders at the White House in
Washington, U.S., November 29, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File
Photo
![](../images/010323PIX/news_d28.png)
"I won't be voting for Kevin McCarthy tomorrow. He's part of the
problem. He's not part of the solution," Good told Fox News on
Monday.
'TAKES TWO TO TANGO'
The record number of voting rounds to elect a House speaker is 133
over a two-month period in the 1850s. Every nominee in the last 100
years has succeeded on the first ballot.
A standoff would leave the House largely paralyzed and could force
lawmakers to consider another candidate. Incoming Majority Leader
Steve Scalise and conservative leader Jim Jordan are seen as
possibilities.
But 15 House Republicans - elected from districts Biden won in 2020
- have warned that they will accept no one for speaker other than
McCarthy.
Strategists from both parties warn that larger problems could lie
ahead for Congress if the House Republicans are left too divided to
negotiate with Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
"If the Republicans stick together, Democrats in the Senate will
have to wrap their heads around a much more conservative product
than they are accustomed (to) in order to pass anything," said
Republican strategist Josh Holmes, a former McConnell aide.
Democratic strategist Jim Manley said that if Biden and Schumer did
not have a House Republican with authority to negotiate with, then
very little would get done, adding: "It takes two to tango."
The hardline Republican House Freedom Caucus is demanding rule
changes that would enhance the group's influence. Moderate
Republicans have said they will accept rule changes only if doing so
leads to McCarthy's election as speaker.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Jan/03/images/ads/current/fricke_sda_LUAL_2022.png)
But some of McCarthy opponents, including Biggs and Gaetz, have
suggested they would not back him under any circumstances.
The Democrats have picked Hakeem Jeffries to serve as minority
leader after Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker, stepped
down from leadership. She will remain in office as a representative.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone, Michelle
Nichols and Bradley Perrett)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |