House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA.) is warning his House Republicans that the Speakership is at stake if those in the GOP House Conference oppose his efforts to become House Speaker.
McCarthy made his remarks during an interview on Newsmax on Monday (November 28). During the interview, McCarthy explained that a win is only guaranteed if Republicans “speak as one voice.”
He stressed that success was only possible if the Republican House Conference “work together,” warning that doing otherwise would cause Republicans to “lose individually.”
McCarthy added that control of Congress was very “fragile,” noting that Republicans control of the House would be the only “stopgap” for the Biden administration.
He then explained that if Republicans failed to be unified, Democrats would be picking who becomes House Speaker.
McCarthy is earmarked to become House Speaker during the next Congress following his win of the GOP’s nomination on who would be chosen for the position.
However, his nomination was anything but smooth sailing as he was challenged by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who is the former leader of the hard-line House Freedom Caucus.
Biggs was a long-shot challenge, but he managed to steer 31 votes away from McCarthy, who cannot afford to lose those votes when House Lawmakers vote on who becomes Speaker.
Biggs needs to win 218 votes — a majority vote — on the first day of the next Congress, while Republicans have only won 222 seats, giving McCarthy a minuscule margin of error.
Democrats are expected to vote in unison on January 3 for their anticipated House Speaker candidate Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
