Kevin McCarthy has been elected by the Republican Party to preside over the House of Representatives. In a closed-door vote on Tuesday, the California congressman won over Arizona Rep, Andy Biggs by 188 votes to 31.
House Republicans have elected Kevin McCarthy(@GOPLeader) as our nominee for Speaker for the 118th Congress!
- House Republicans (@HouseGOP) November 15, 2022
During the press conference following his appointment, McCarthy noted that the GOP is fully prepared to preside over the House of Representatives:
We have our work cut out for us. We're going to have a small majority, we've got to listen to everybody in our conference. Either we’re going to lead as a team, or we’re going to lose as individuals, and I think at the end of the day, we will lead as a team.
"We're listening to the American public. We are prepared to lead." - @GOPLeader pic.twitter.com/Duh8dsQD0M
- House Republicans (@HouseGOP) November 15, 2022
McCarthy could thus become Speaker of the House of Representatives if he wins a majority of 218 congressmen backing his candidacy next January. He would thus replace Democrat Nancy Pelosi who has been in office since 2019.
However, he does not have the support of all Republican congressmen. His opponent, Andy Biggs, said in a statement released shortly before the vote took place:
The American people want us to turn a page. They do not want excuses or performance art, they want action and results.
The promised red wave turned into a loss of the United States Senate, a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, and upset and losses of premiere political candidates.
My bid to run for Speaker is about changing the paradigm and the status quo. Minority Leader McCarthy does not have the votes needed to become the next Speaker of the House and his speakership should not be a foregone conclusion.
A statement he reaffirmed during an interview he gave to Fox News after learning that McCarthy would be the Republican nominee for Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Minority Leader McCarthy still doesn't have the votes to become the next House Speaker.
Yesterday's vote shows there is increasing frustration with the status quo.
The American people want us to turn a page. pic.twitter.com/v5obLH0ffe
- Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) November 16, 2022
