Kevin McCarthy isn’t ruling out a surprise return to the House speakership if his fellow Republicans can’t agree on who should replace him.
Although not actively running to reclaim the gavel he lost last week, McCarthy (R-Calif.) expressed willingness Monday to serve again if called upon by his colleagues.
“Look, whatever the conference wants, I will do. I think we need to be strong. I think we need to be united,” McCarthy told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt when asked if he would step in if the House GOP conference proves to be deadlocked.
McCarthy became the first speaker ever voted out of office Oct. 3, when eight Republicans banded together with a united bloc of Democrats to remove him by a vote of 216-210.
“The eight, in my view … it was a personal thing. It wasn’t about where we were going,” McCarthy told Hewitt. “If you take some of their comments of why they did this, because I kept the government open?”
The Republican defectors backed a motion to vacate the chair, parliamentary parlance for removing the speaker, after McCarthy brought up a stopgap continuing resolution to avert a partial government shutdown late last month.
“Could you imagine? They’re the ones that stopped appropriations bills from going forward. They’re the ones who voted against a continuing resolution that secured our border and cut spending.”
The California Republican later reiterated his openness to serving as speaker during a press availability late Monday morning, telling reporters: “I can lead in any position.”
McCarthy also took verbal swipes at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who led the mutiny against him, as well as Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who joined the revolt.
“Could you imagine if we were sitting here and we listened further to Gaetz and Mace — that we were in a shutdown?” he asked. “We’re living in very dangerous times. The pettiness has got to stop.”
Centrist Republicans have bristled at the toppling of McCarthy, and some have even sought to reinstate him.
“A short window is all we need in the House to reinstate Kevin McCarthy and change the rule,” Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) told Politico over the weekend.
After his ouster, McCarthy announced that he wouldn’t vie for the speakership again and shot down rumors Friday that he’d step down from Congress.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is effectively in a state of paralysis with Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry’s (R-NC) powers limited by rule.
Without a fully vested speaker in place, the lower chamber has no ability to take up bills, including to address the war between Israel and Hamas that erupted over the weekend.
“Unfortunately the House can do nothing without a speaker,” McCarthy said Monday. “I could be upset with eight, but I could be upset with every Democrat as well.”
House Republicans are planning to hold a candidate forum on Tuesday followed by a vote for speaker on Wednesday, according to McHenry.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) are the top two contenders jostling for the post.
“Is our conference just going to select somebody to try to throw them out in another 35 days if eight people don’t get 100% of what they want,” McCarthy vented to reporters Monday.
“[If] you allow eight people to continue to do that with no consequences — no one’s going to be successful.”
McCarthy, a staunch backer of Israel, urged the Biden administration to enact a five-point plan to “help our ally” following the onslaught by Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas.
Specially, McCarthy called on the administration to rescue all American hostages held by Hamas, demand the extradition of the terror group’s leader from Qatar, confront Iran over its support for Hamas and Hezbollah, bolster US national security, and crack down on anti-semitism in the Democratic Party.
“America is grateful for our friendship with Israel. We are a better nation because of it. And we must never shy away from defending. Now is the time for action,” McCarthy proclaimed.
“And to the president, turn off the barbecue and speak to the American people.”