While results from Tuesday night’s midterm elections continue to come in, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is preparing for a GOP-controlled House of Representatives; McCarthy has officially announced his bid for Speaker.
The California Republican made his case in a letter to fellow party members.
“Over the past century, Republicans had flipped the House from Democrats just four times: 1946, 1952, 1994 and 2010. Only twice did that flip occur in four years or less,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said in a letter to fellow Republicans.
“This was the most expensive and arguably the most competitive House midterm in America’s history,” the minority leader continued. “Yet in a hard-fought contest, our message and our candidates prevailed, winning key seats across the country, some in districts that President Biden carried just two years ago by double digits…. This is no small feat.”
“I trust you know that earning the majority is only the beginning. Now, we will be measured by what we do with our majority. Now, the real work begins,” he said. “That is why I am running to serve as Speaker of the People’s House and humbly ask for your support.”
“I will be a listener every bit as much as a Speaker, striving to build consensus from the bottom-up rather than commanding the agenda from the top-down,” McCarthy added. “That means putting the right people in the right spots and harnessing the power of our entire conference.”
It is not yet clear if McCarthy will face serious opposition to his nomination.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich shared his thoughts on McCarthy’s “extraordinary effort” on Twitter:
“House Republicans will have a majority. Leader Kevin McCarthy’s hard work and extraordinary effort will lead to a majority about the same as the one House Republicans had in 1994 after the Contract with America. As Nancy Pelosi has proven a Speaker can get a lot done.”
House Republicans will have a majority. Leader Kevin McCarthy’s hard work and extraordinary effort will lead to a majority about the same as the one House Republicans had in 1994 after the Contract with America. As Nancy Pelosi has proven a Speaker can get a lot done.
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) November 9, 2022
