House Freedom Caucus Endorses McCarthy Challenger For Speaker

UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 3: Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., listens during the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee hearing on "How the Changing Ene... UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 3: Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., listens during the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee hearing on "How the Changing Energy Markets Will Affect U.S. Transportation" on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
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The House Freedom Caucus — the group of conservatives hardliners whose shutdown antics led to House Speaker John Boehner’s resignation — has endorsed Rep. Daniel Webster for to be the GOP nominee for the next speaker, caucus member Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) told CNN. The move is a rebuke to Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Boehner’s presumed successor.

While it’s unlikely that the 40-or-so member caucus will be enough to thwart McCarthy’s selection in the closed-door GOP conference Thursday, their refusal to support him spells trouble for when the issue comes to the full House, where 218 votes will be required to elect the next speaker.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) suggested Tuesday that Democrats will vote for Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), meaning if enough Republicans continue to resist McCarthy as speaker, it could set the stage for a protracted floor fight.

Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID), another Freedom Caucus member, told CNN the group plans to vote as a bloc once the speakership nomination hits the floor.

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Notable Replies

  1. This internecine knife-fight would be entertaining if it weren’t dragging the credibility of the U.S. government through the sewers and making the notion of representative democracy some kind of joke.

  2. Man, you´re not at all like I pictured you from your posts.

  3. She’s just a little younger and a little pinker. Just a little. lol

  4. I believe that train has already sailed. Or something…

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