Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has expressed his willingness to return as House speaker if enough Republicans who voted to remove him from the position reconsider their decision. McCarthy made this statement during an interview on Hugh Hewitt’s syndicated radio program, where he stated that he is ready to do whatever the conference wants. He reiterated this sentiment later at a news conference focused on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
This comes as the House Republican conference prepares to meet for the first time since McCarthy’s removal. Last week, McCarthy announced that he would not run for a leadership role again and would let the conference choose someone else. However, it seems that he has had a change of heart in light of the recent events.
With McCarthy’s removal, Congress now faces the challenge of responding to the ongoing violence between Hamas and Israel without a speaker in place. Despite no longer holding the leadership position, McCarthy attempted to offer guidance on supporting Israel during this time.
McCarthy’s removal from the position was primarily a result of discontent among Republicans regarding his government funding deal with Democrats. However, McCarthy defended his actions, stating that the state of the country would have been worse if he hadn’t made the deal.
While McCarthy considers returning as speaker, two other Republicans, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (Ohio), have launched bids to succeed him. It remains uncertain whether either of them can secure enough votes to become the next speaker.
When asked if he would step forward to break the deadlock, McCarthy stated that the conference must make that decision. During the news conference, he emphasized that he still had the support of “96 percent” of the House Republican conference, and criticized the remaining 4 percent for playing politics.
The absence of a full-time speaker has limited the House’s ability to operate effectively, especially during times of crisis such as the current conflict in the Middle East. Some members are urging for an aid package to be sent to Israel, but without a speaker, it is challenging to push for such measures.
In his interview with Hugh Hewitt, McCarthy stressed the need for Congress to project strength and solidarity with Israel. He suggested that under his leadership, the House would have taken different actions, such as reaching out to world leaders and putting forth a resolution to demonstrate unity.
House Republicans are set to gather for a closed meeting to discuss the next steps following McCarthy’s removal. A candidate forum is scheduled for Tuesday, with voting among House Republicans taking place on Wednesday. However, it is unclear when the full House will vote on a new speaker.
The decision to reinstate McCarthy or elect a new speaker will have significant implications for the direction and priorities of the House. It remains to be seen how the Republican conference will navigate this leadership transition in the midst of pressing issues both domestically and internationally.