House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is sparring behind closed doors with right-flank conservatives who refuse to give him their votes to become House speaker.
agenda after two years of a Democratic Party control of both houses of Congress.
Democrats enthusiastically nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-.N.Y., who is taking over as party leader, as their choice for speaker — a typically symbolic gesture in the minority but one that took on new importance as Republicans were in disarray. A new generation of Trump-aligned Republicans led the opposition to McCarthy. They don't think McCarthy is conservative enough or tough enough to battle Democrats. It's reminiscent of the last time Republicans took back the House majority, after the 2010 midterms, when the tea-party class ushered in a new era of hardball politics, eventually sending Speaker John Boehner to an early retirement.
Some of the staunch Republican conservatives challenged McCarthy in the private session. He pushed back, according to a Republican in the room and granted anonymity to discuss the closed-door session. A viable challenger to McCarthy had yet to emerge. Biggs, R-Ariz., was running as a conservative option, but was not expected to pull a majority. McCarthy defeated him in the November nominating contest, 188-31.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Congress to convene, but will McCarthy be House speaker?The new Congress opens with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy grasping for his political survival
Read more »
New Congress to convene, but will McCarthy be House speaker?The new Congress opens with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy grasping for his political survival.
Read more »
McCarthy fights to be House speaker as new Congress convenesThe new Congress opens with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy grasping for his political survival
Read more »
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy still short on votes in bid to become speaker even after concessionsMcCarthy has begged countless lawmakers — and offered extraordinary concessions, including allowing members to easily fire him at any time — to secure the votes for speaker.
Read more »
US Republican Kevin McCarthy struggles for support ahead of speaker voteA group of hard-line conservatives are opposed to McCarthy’s candidacy and have criticised the California Republican for not taking a more aggressive stance against Democrats
Read more »