Kevin McCarthy insists he will remain as speaker of Congress after his historic ouster: The Republican dismisses reports of his resignation – and hints he will run for re-election next year
- McCarthy’s resignation would have damaged the Republicans’ slim four-vote majority in the House of Representatives
Kevin McCarthy insisted he will not resign from Congress despite being ousted as speaker this week and said he will even run for re-election in 2024.
“I will not resign, I still have a lot to do,” he told reporters after reports speculated he was considering stepping down.
“I want to keep the majority,” McCarthy said, insisting he will run again next cycle. “We will continue to expand it.”
McCarthy’s resignation would have damaged the Republicans’ slim four-vote majority in the House of Representatives. The race would have to go through a special election, the entry of which on the calendar could be delayed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
During his farewell speech after a historic vote that ousted him from the top job in the House, McCarthy said, “I haven’t thought about it” when asked about the possibility of resigning.
A motion to vacate the speaker’s chair passed by a vote of 216-210, with eight Republicans joining Democrats on Tuesday to oust the House leader.
Kevin McCarthy insisted he will not resign from Congress despite being ousted as speaker this week and said he will even run for re-election in 2024
McCarthy, R-Calif., was the first speaker in the 234-year history of the U.S. Congress to be thrown out of office and have his fellow justices take his gavel away.
In an all-conference meeting after the vote, McCarthy reportedly told members that he was looking forward to spending more time with his family now that he is no longer speaker.
McCarthy ally Rep. Patrick McHenry, chairman of the Financial Services Committee, has been named interim speaker, but now the Republican Party will launch a marathon attempt to pick a successor while it is in turmoil.
Many Republicans are now calling for a change to the House GOP conference rules, which currently allow a single lawmaker to submit a motion to resign or for a lawmaker to call a vote to oust the speaker.
Republicans return to Capitol Hill on Monday to debate who will lead them next, amid a contentious battle between Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee, and the No. 2 Republican in the House, Steve Scalise.
Chief Justice Jim Jordan (left) takes on Majority Leader Steve Scalise (right).
They are expected to vote as a conference on a candidate before a House speaker votes
The 58-year-old McCarthy’s humiliating end sent shockwaves throughout Capitol Hill, securing him the title of shortest-term Speaker since 1875 after a rollercoaster nine months.
It came after a rebellion led by his nemesis, Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, and a small group of hard-line Republicans who viewed McCarthy as a weak conservative.