McCarthy Reportedly Clears First Hurdle to Become House Speaker

Rep. Kevin McCarthy has reportedly cleared the first major hurdle to become Speaker of the House.

House Republicans backed McCarthy as speaker in a closed-door meeting Tuesday, a key step he needs toward winning the gavel.

However, the result showed McCarthy has more work to do to win the vote of the full chamber on the floor next year.

McCarthy needs 218 votes in a roll-call vote among all lawmakers present and voting, with a Republican majority that is expected to be the narrowest in recent history.

All Democrats are expected to oppose him.

In the private Republican vote, McCarthy earned support by a 188-31 vote.

Kevin McCarthy wins republican private vote for speaker 188-31 vote for 118th Congress. This is only the first hurdle. pic.twitter.com/OCCFBG953P

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) November 15, 2022

Breaking: Kevin McCarthy won a GOP vote for House speaker, say people familiar with the matter, a key step toward winning the gavel if Republicans take control https://t.co/Jz8VoTXuaC

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 15, 2022

From The Morning Call:

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is taking the first major step Tuesday toward becoming House speaker, appearing before colleagues for a secret ballot election as he brushes past the objections of his right flank and begins a weeks-long sprint of deal-making to secure support.

McCarthy has led House Republicans this far, and with them now on the cusp of majority control, he has a chance to seize the gavel from Nancy Pelosi if Democrats are defeated.

“We’re going to have the ability to change America,” McCarthy said, upbeat as he entered the private meeting.

He noted backing from right-flank Republicans Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as part of his “vast support.”

But Republican leaders are facing an intense backlash on Capitol Hill over their disappointing performance in the midterm elections, when McCarthy’s promises of a GOP sweep that would transform Washington collapsed. Instead, the House could have one of the slimmest majorities in 90 years, leaving McCarthy exposed to challengers. The fallout is spilling down-ballot in other Republican leadership races and in the Senate, where Republican leader Mitch McConnell will face his own colleagues on Wednesday.

The formal vote for House speaker will come when the new Congress convenes in January, Before then, McCarthy will need to shore up support from 218 lawmakers with potentially just a few votes to spare.

According to Rep. Matt Gaetz, the current Republican opposition to McCarthy will not allow him to become House Speaker.

31 votes against. Big opposition.

Kevin McCarthy does not have the votes to be Speaker of the House. https://t.co/3wiAaicokd

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) November 15, 2022

With Republicans expecting to hold a narrow House majority, McCarthy has plenty of work to do before securing 218 votes.

If you’re surprised by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s backing of McCarthy, check out her reasoning below:

MTG:

“Politics is a blood sport. We have to do anything we can to stop our enemy. And the enemy is the Democrat Party.” pic.twitter.com/M747XLCT0O

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) November 14, 2022

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