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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 16 november 2022

McCarthy wins nomination for House speaker, but grind ahead

By LISA MASCARO and Freedom Caucus, Rep. door forum late Monday
FARNOUSH AMIRI Andy Biggs of Arizona, an- he has enough support for
Associated Press nounced he was chal- the race with Stefanik to be
WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- lenging McCarthy, saying close.
publican leader Kevin Mc- Americans want a "new di- Trump backs McCarthy for
Carthy won the nomination rection." speaker, but the two have
Tuesday for House speaker, "The promised red wave had a rocky relationship,
clearing a first step with turned into a loss of the and even Trump's support
majority support from his United States Senate, a is no guarantee McCarthy
colleagues, but he now razor-thin majority in the will reach the needed 218
faces a weeks-long slog to House of Representatives, votes when the new Con-
quell right-flank objections and upset losses of pre- gress convenes, particu-
before a final vote in the miere political candidates," larly if Republicans win the
new year. Biggs said in a statement. House with just a slim, few-
McCarthy has led House "McCarthy does not have seat majority that would
Republicans this far, and the votes needed to be- leave him no cushion for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of Calif., talks to
with the party now on the come the next Speaker of detractors. It's a familiar reporters, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
cusp of majority control, he the House and his speaker- dynamic for House Repub- Associated Press
has a chance to seize the ship should not be a fore- licans, one that befell their earlier battles between to be a grueling period of
gavel from Nancy Pelosi if gone conclusion." most recent Republican party factions, but he was hardball negotiations with
Democrats are defeated. Many in the Republican speakers — John Boehner forced to back out of a bid the Freedom Caucus and
The GOP leader won a 188- Party are blaming their and Paul Ryan — who both for the speaker's job in 2015 rank-and-file Republicans
31 vote, with ballots cast losses on Donald Trump, retired early rather than try when it was clear he did as McCarthy tries to ap-
by new and returning law- the former president who to lead a party splintered not have support from con- pease them and rack up
makers, but the challenges endorsed hundreds of can- by its far-right flank. servatives. the support he will need in
ahead are clear. McCar- didates, many of them far- McCarthy survived those The weeks ahead promise the new year.q
thy will need to grind out right contenders rejected
support from no fewer than by voters. Trump is expect-
218 lawmakers from his slim ed to announce his 2024
ranks when the new Con- bid for the White House
gress convenes in January, from his Mar-a-Lago club
leaving just a few votes to in Florida on Tuesday eve-
spare. ning.
"We're going to have the It's not just McCarthy whose
ability to change America," leadership is in question but
McCarthy said, upbeat his entire team. This includes
as he entered the private Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn.,
meeting. the campaign chairman
He noted backing from who traditionally would be
right-flank Republicans rewarded with a leader-
Rep. Marjorie Taylor ship spot but finds himself in
Greene of Georgia and a three-way race for GOP
Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as whip that was forced into a
part of his "vast support." second-round of voting.
But Republican leaders are The No. 2 Republican, Rep.
facing an intense backlash Steve Scalise of Louisiana,
on Capitol Hill over their dis- had an easier time, winning
appointing performance the majority leader spot un-
in the midterm elections, contested, by voice vote.
when McCarthy's prom- He pledged that House
ises of a GOP sweep that Republicans, if they win the
would transform Washing- majority, will launch "over-
ton collapsed. Instead, the sight necessary to hold the
House could have one of Biden Administration ac-
the slimmest majorities in countable."
90 years, leaving McCarthy And one of Trump's top al-
exposed to challengers. lies in the House, Rep. Elise
The fallout is spilling down- Stefanik of New York — the
ballot into other Republi- third-ranking House Repub-
can leadership races and lican and the first lawmak-
into the Senate, where er to back Trump in a 2024
Senate Republican leader run — is working to fend off
Mitch McConnell will face rival Rep. Byron Donalds,
a challenge from GOP Sen. a Black Republican from
Rick Scott of Florida, the Florida seen by many law-
party's campaign chair- makers as a potential new
man, in Wednesday's elec- party leader.
tions. Scott announced his A self-described "Trump-
bid at a party lunch Tues- supporting, liberty-lov-
day. ing, pro-life, pro-Second
The former chairman of Amendment Black man,"
the conservative House Donalds said after a closed-