'I'm not John Boehner': McCarthy asserts difference in his campaign for speaker
Politics
‘I’m not John Boehner’: McCarthy asserts difference in his campaign for speaker
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is promising conservative GOP lawmakers that “I’m not John Boehner” as he seeks their support to replace Boehner as speaker. McCarthy and his two Republican rivals for the speaker’s job took turns meeting behind closed doors Tuesday night with a coalition of four groups comprising the most conservative members in the House. These are the lawmakers who forced Boehner to resign and now they’re maneuvering to deny his No. 2, McCarthy, the chance to ascend unless he agrees to various demands. Lawmakers present said McCarthy pledged changes to the House.
I think McCarthy’s pitch was 'I’m not John Boehner, I’m going to run things differently, I’m my own man.’ And I think that’s a case that he does have to make.
Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas
The other two lawmakers running for the job — Reps. Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Daniel Webster of Florida — also addressed the group. McCarthy appears to have the support of most House Republicans. On Thursday, House Republicans will meet privately to choose their party’s nominee for speaker. The entire House — both Republicans and Democrats — will then vote in an open session three weeks later, on Oct. 29.
