Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) criticized the eight House Republicans who voted to have him removed from his position last week. The former speaker’s comments come as the GOP is having difficulty crafting a coalition that can meet the votes needed to gain the gavel.
“The real challenge here is eight Republicans did something. No one would have thought that they would work with every single Democrat to disrupt this nation, to remove me as speaker,” he said.
McCarthy made the comments during a Sunday interview with Fox News.
“It has taught people now that why don’t you just go work with Democrats and disrupt government? This will go down in history as one of the biggest mistakes these eight have made in the process,” McCarthy said.
The former speaker announced his support for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) as the party’s nominee for the position.
McCarthy called his colleague “better prepared” for the job.
Jordan reportedly is planning for a floor vote in the House on Tuesday. However, it is not clear what the outcome may be.
McCarthy was named speaker after a number of floor votes, with many of those who later voted to oust him selecting other candidates, including Gaetz’s nomination of former President Donald Trump.
The former House Speaker’s comments also come as there is currently talk of a possible deal in which some House Republicans would support Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for the position.
Reported supporters of the possible deal include Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), who received considerable criticism from Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT).
“It’s outrageous that Jim Jordan has been nominated by the party, has the support of McCarthy and McHenry, and yet Mike Rogers and a few House Republicans would rather work with Democrats,” Lee wrote on social media. “If you’re a House Republican, please vote for Jim Jordan—not Hakeem Jeffries.”
It’s outrageous that Jim Jordan has been nominated by the party, has the support of McCarthy and McHenry, and yet Mike Rogers and a few House Republicans would rather work with Democrats. If you’re a House Republican, please vote for Jim Jordan—not Hakeem Jeffries. https://t.co/n7DQFCTNGa
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) October 14, 2023
As of the weekend, 55 House Republicans stated or implied that they would not vote for Jordan as speaker. Jeffries would need a handful of Republican defectors to claim the speaker’s gavel.
