Kevin McCarthy, who won his reelection bid in California’s 23rd Congressional District, has his eyes set on the House speaker spot in 2022, reports Axios.
McCarthy, the No. 2 House Republican, has held a seat in the House since 2007. He’s sought the House speaker role before — in 2015 and 2018 — but rumors of an affair with a colleague dampened those plans during the first run and Democrats kept the House majority in the 2018 midterm elections, clearing the path for Nancy Pelosi to take the gavel.
Republicans need to retake the majority in the 2022 midterms for McCarthy to have a shot.
"Although securing an outright majority remains our aim, we can take many positives from last night and use the places we came up short as fuel to motivate our efforts over the next two years,” McCarthy said Wednesday in a letter to the House Republican Conference.
"I firmly believe this conference has what it takes to earn back the majority. More than that, I am a fighter and I do not quit on my team or on our shared goals. That is why I am running to serve as Republican Leader and humbly ask for your support."
Sources who spoke with Axios said neither House GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney nor Republican Whip Steve Scalise would mount a bid against McCarthy.
Democrats will keep their majority in the House but could wind up with the slimmest House majority in 20 years, as Republicans have won nearly every tossup and picked up at least six seats based on calls of races by The Associated Press.
McCarthy on Wednesday tweeted: "Republicans defied the odds and grew our party last night."
He also tweeted to Pelosi, "You've been put on notice."
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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