Kevin McCarthy unsure about his future in the House after losing the presidency
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said he’s not sure he wants to remain a member of the House after losing the speakership last month.
the legislator he told CNN’s Manu Raju in a recent interview that he will take time to think about his options heading into 2024, when McCarthy and other House members are up for re-election.
“I have the holidays. I will talk to my family about ideas of what [to do] Go ahead and then I’ll make a decision,” McCarthy said in the conversation that aired Sunday.
McCarthy on his tenure in the House. “There are a lot of ways to do it to make sure he’s doing the job. And I am going to analyze all the options.” pic.twitter.com/8jdvHZqAeZ
-Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 12, 2023
McCarthy, who It represents California’s 20th congressional district was first elected to Congress in 2006 and has risen through the ranks of the Republican Party.
He won the speaker’s gavel in the 15th round of voting in January, but only after making concessions, such as restoring the ability of a single member to trigger the process that would lead to such a vote of no confidence.
Citing frustrations with McCarthy’s leadership, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) archived a “motion to vacate the presidency” in early October after the House passed a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.
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Gaetz and seven other Republicans joined Democrats in a 216-210 vote that ousted McCarthy.
The GOP-led House of Representatives elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as its 56th speaker in late October, ending a weeks-long impasse.
Upon losing the presidency, McCarthy sure journalists that “yes” he would seek re-election and said he would not resign, stating that he had “a lot more work to do.” But the California Republican stressed to Raju that he is now reevaluating his future plans.
After expressing his desire to make sure Johnson had the “resources” he needs as the new president, McCarthy added: “I want to make sure I continue to do the job for my district. But I also want to make sure that you can… I always believe, and you would listen to me all the time, you never give up in the process, right? Well, there are many ways to do it to make sure you get the job done. And I am going to analyze all the options.”
When asked which way he was leaning, McCarthy said, “I don’t know.”
David Giglio, a businessman who is run to fill McCarthy’s seat as an “America First” candidate aligned with former President Donald Trump, called on the incumbent to resign.
“We cannot drain the Washington swamp by maintaining the status quo, and that is why Kevin McCarthy must resign immediately,” Giglio said in a statement.
