Author Topic: WHIP LIST: McCarthy searches for 218 GOP Speakership votes (Read 361 times)

mystery-ak · « **on:** November 25, 2022, 01:55:47 pm »

WHIP LIST: McCarthy searches for 218 GOP Speakership votes
by Emily Brooks - 11/25/22 6:00 AM ET

A narrower-than-anticipated House Republican majority and a growing number of House Republicans expressing opposition to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are threatening to derail his bid to be Speaker of the House.

McCarthy won his party’s nomination for Speaker this month but needs to secure a majority of all those casting a vote for a specific candidate in a Jan. 3 House floor vote in order to officially be elected Speaker.

Support from 218 House Republicans, marking a majority of the House, would shore up his position.

A Speaker can be elected with fewer than 218 votes if there are absences, vacancies or some members vote “present,” but McCarthy does not have much wiggle room. Democrats will have around 213 seats, and all are expected to vote for a Democratic Speaker nominee. Republicans will have around 222 seats.

McCarthy maintains confidence that he will win the Speakership, but around five House Republicans have already signaled they will not support McCarthy’s Speakership bid on the floor, likely already putting him under 218 and throwing his position into dangerous territory. Several others are withholding support, too, without necessarily saying they will vote against McCarthy on Jan. 3.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3748648-whip-list-mccarthy-searches-for-218-gop-speakership-votes/

Right_in_Virginia · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2022, 02:09:12 pm »

Here are the five votes Matt Gaetz claims will stop Kevin McCarthy from becoming House Speaker
BPR, Nov 23, 2022

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz claimed on Tuesday that he has enough votes to prevent current House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy from becoming House speaker in January.

Speaking on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, he said that of the 36 Republicans who voted against McCarthy during the initial vote last week, five of them — which is apparently enough to stop his confirmation as speaker — have vowed to vote “no” again come the final vote in January.

“To catch everyone up, last week there were 36 votes against Kevin McCarthy in the Republican conference, and again, Kevin has had years to try to convince people of the worth of his candidacy. Since that time, zero of those 36 have come out to say, ‘You know what, I voted against McCarthy previously, but I’m now prepared to vote for him on the floor.’ Zero,” he said.

"Meanwhile, five members, which include myself, Andy Biggs, Bob Good, Matt Rosendale, and now most recently Ralph Norman, have all come out and said that our ‘no’ vote on McCarthy is firm. It was not just a no vote within the Republican conference. It is a ‘no’ vote we intend to carry to the floor,” he added.

More w/audio: https://www.bizpacreview.com/2022/11/23/here-are-the-five-votes-matt-gaetz-claims-will-stop-kevin-mccarthy-from-becoming-house-speaker-1311785/

bilo · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2022, 02:56:22 pm »

Would it be all that bad if the Pubs don't have a majority for a speaker?

I remember how we were all told we needed to rally around McConnell when he was up for re-election and all he has done has been to destroy any MAGA senators where possible. McCarthy isn't any better. Why vote for a speaker who will do the same?