“Anti-Kevin” Trumpists and anti-establishment Republicans: Around 20 elected representatives have been preventing the election of a president to the US House of Representatives for three days.
• Also read: The US Congress begins a third day of negotiations
• Also read: Republicans still disagree
All members of the most conservative fringe of the Republican Party, these elected officials do not have the same reasons for stopping California Representative Kevin McCarthy from taking the stand, and some might be more adamant than others.
Overview of their profiles and their requirements.
Anti-establishment conservatives
A handful of elected ultra-conservatives who accuse the US Congress of supporting the interests of lobbyists and the Washington establishment have made it their mission to radically change the way the institution operates.
They are skeptical about the appointment of Kevin McCarthy, who has been on the Republican staff for more than a decade, but appeared open to negotiations in recent days.
“I’m open to anything that gives me the power to defend my constituents against this cursed city,” said Texas Officer-elect Chip Roy, referring to the federal capital.
A process to facilitate the removal of the ‘speaker’, seats on key committees… Kevin McCarthy agreed to some of their demands during Wednesday night’s negotiations, without that group saying whether it would affect their vote.
Die-hard anti-McCarthys
And then there’s the “Never Kevin” (the “anti-Kevin”), those elected officials who have pledged never to vote for the California elected representative they say they don’t trust.
“He’s a desperate guy who’s losing votes at every turn,” turbulent Florida elector Matt Gaetz was very active in the chamber to ensure opposition to Kevin McCarthy continued.
“I’m willing to vote all night, all week, all month and it will never be for him,” he promised Wednesday night.
These free electrons, who are very close to Donald Trump, have nonetheless refused to heed the former president’s call to queue.
“The President should tell Kevin McCarthy that he does not have the necessary votes and that he must withdraw his candidacy,” said Lauren Boebert-elect in the Chamber.
The equation for the Republicans who support Kevin McCarthy — the overwhelming majority of the faction — is how many of those 20 elected officials would be willing to negotiate.
The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives is so small they can’t afford more than four defectors.
Even if a “speaker” were to be elected, the bitter opposition from this hard core points to open wars on a litany of issues over the next two years, so small is the majority of Republicans in the House of Representatives.
The main items on the menu are releasing additional envelopes for Ukraine, raising America’s national debt ceiling and funding the state.