McCarthy Survives Leadership Challenge from Biggs

Brittany Bernstein
·3 min read
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House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif) successfully fended off a leadership challenge from Representative Andy Biggs (R., Ariz.) on Tuesday.

McCarthy defeated Biggs, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, in a 188-31 secret-ballot vote to become the party’s nominee for speaker. McCarthy needed to win support from only a simple majority of the House Republican conference, including incumbents, newly elected members and candidates in uncalled races.

Biggs explained his decision to challenge McCarthy in a tweet earlier on Tuesday: “The American people want us to turn a page. They do not want excuses or performance art, they want action and results. The promised red wave turned into a loss of the United States Senate, a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, and upset losses of premiere political candidates. My bid to run for Speaker is about changing the paradigm and the status quo.”

“Minority Leader McCarthy does not have the votes needed to become the next Speaker of the House and his speakership should not be a foregone conclusion,” Biggs said.

With several House races yet to be called, Republicans are expected to take the chamber with a narrow majority. The 31 votes for Biggs could prove difficult for McCarthy in January, when he will need to secure at least 218 votes to win the speakership. Assuming that all Democrats oppose McCarthy for the speakership, he can only afford to lose a few Republican votes in a House with a razor-thin majority.

Ahead of the vote, McCarthy told reporters he felt “great” about his standing, noting that the goal when he became leader four years ago was to win the majority, per the New York Times.

Representatives Kat Cammack of Florida, Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania nominated McCarthy for speaker, advocating that party unity is the only way to victory, CNN reported. Representatives Chip Roy of Texas and Ralph Norman of South Carolina nominated Biggs, saying the conference needs to change the way the chamber operates.

Armstrong spoke at the closed-door meeting ahead of the vote, saying Republicans need a leader who understands that “when we fight among ourselves, the Democrats win,” according to the New York Times.

McCarthy received a standing ovation after winning the nomination.

Meanwhile, House GOP campaigns chief Tom Emmer won the race for the No.3 leadership post, defeating Republican Study Committee chairman Representative Jim Banks (R., Ind.) on a second ballot after besting Chief Deputy Whip Drew Ferguson (R., Ga.) by one vote during the first round of secret balloting.

Representative Elise Stefanik of New York held on her to her post as House GOP conference chair, defeating challenger Representative Byron Donalds of Florida 144-74.

House Republicans elected Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana as the party’s majority leader. Scalise was unopposed.

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