Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy isn’t planning on sticking around much longer after his historic ouster from his leadership position with the help of eight Republicans earlier this fall.
Sources told Axios that the California Republican is looking to depart Congress early, and perhaps before the end of this year. They said that McCarthy is currently struggling with a decision on whether to stay or leave early but that he is leaning toward the latter. If he decides to step aside, that could happen before January, the outlet noted.
“I have another week or so to decide because if I decide to run again, I have to know in my heart I’m giving 110%,” McCarthy said during The New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday, referring to California’s Dec. 8 filing deadline, Axios reported.
“I have to know that I want to do that. I also have to know if I’m going to walk away, that I’m going to be fine with walking away. And so I’m really taking this time now,” he added, per the outlet.
Axios added:
Speculation over McCarthy’s potential departure escalated ahead of the Thanksgiving recess, with multiple GOP sources noting he posted a photo on Instagram in which his district office appeared to be in the process of being packed.
Multiple Republicans raised concerns that California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom could hold McCarthy’s seat open if he decides to resign in the new year.
The GOP’s razor-thin majority is already on the verge of being diminished further by the potential expulsion of Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) in a vote expected on Friday.
McCarthy’s potential decision to step down sooner rather than later follows his removal by all Democrats and eight Republicans earlier this fall. That left the chamber in a state of paralysis, with only an acting Speaker lacking the authority to bring legislation to the floor for votes. Subsequently, House Republicans unified and elected Mike Johnson (R-La.) to succeed McCarthy.
“The image in the rearview mirror is getting smaller by the day,” one lawmaker told the outlet regarding the California Republican’s waning influence over the conference. “I don’t think he’s having a good time being a regular Joe.”
“I can’t really imagine that Kevin really wants to stick around. I’ll support him with whatever he wants to do,” another GOP lawmaker told Axios, adding that he “decentralized power” and “did a lot of really good things he doesn’t get nearly enough credit for.”
“I mean, why the hell would he stay?” another said.
“I suspect the former speaker will return to spend more time with the people he’s always represented — on Wall Street and K Street. I don’t imagine he’ll be walking the streets of Bakersfield,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who led the GOP rebellion against McCarthy.
“Damn shame,” said another critic of McCarthy who speculated that he will use his large campaign war chest against House Republicans who helped remove him.
