Washington- Republican leader Kevin McCarthy won the nomination for Speaker of the House on Tuesday, making the first move with the support of the majority of his colleagues, although now he faces a battle that will last weeks to appease the objections of the right before the election. final vote that will be in the new year.
So far McCarthy has led the House Republicans, as the party is on the verge of gaining majority control, he has a chance to seize Nancy Pelosi’s seat if the Democrats are defeated.
The GOP leader who was approved through a 188-31 intraparty election, with ballots being cast by new lawmakers and re-elected, will face some challenges.
McCarthy will need to win the support of no fewer than 218 lawmakers from his close ranks when the new Congress convenes in January, leaving only a few votes free.
“We’re going to have the ability to change America,” McCarthy said, walking into a private meeting.
He noted support from the right, from Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Jim Jordan of Ohio, as part of that “immense support.”
Though Republican leaders are facing intense criticism of the Capitol for its disappointing performance in the midterm elections, McCarthy’s promises that the GOP would sweep and transform Washington have collapsed.
On the contrary, the House could have one of the narrowest majorities in 90 years, leaving McCarthy exposed to competitors and jeopardizing his ability to govern.
That failure is spilling over into other Republican leadership races and in the Senate, where Republican leader Mitch McConnell will face a challenge from Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, the party’s campaign chairman, in Wednesday’s election.
The former chairman of the conservative House Liberty Clique, Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, announced that he was going to challenge McCarthy, saying Americans want to go in a “new direction.”
“The promised red wave turned into a defeat. McCarthy does not have the votes to become the next Speaker of the House,” Biggs said in a statement.