OnPolitics: What McCarthy's quest to secure speaker says for the future

Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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Hey there, OnPolitics readers. After the GOP narrowly secured the majority of the House of Representatives, current Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is trying to nail down the votes necessary for the speaker's job.

But as National Political Correspondent David Jackson reports, McCarthy's quest for speaker says more about the future of Republican leadership.

Q: In your recent story on House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, you reported that he would keep three Democrats off of their current committees. Why is he using this promise as leverage to secure votes for the speaker position?

David: McCarthy's speakership is not a done deal; he doesn't have commitments from the 218 members he needs to prevail, largely because some of the more conservative members of his caucus are balking. They are making demands that McCarthy is eager to meet, including punishment of certain Democrats who have displeased them over the years.

Q: What does this tell us about the potential future of the House Republicans and who holds power?

David: It says McCarthy's likely speakership - he's still the favorite - will be very political, featuring constant battles with Democrats. Vicious ones.

Q: What do we know about McCarthy himself and his relationships with key players – not just 2023, but for 2024’s presidential race?

David: McCarthy has always had an uneasy relationship with the most conservative Republicans. That's not going to change when and if he becomes speaker.

Many lawmakers believe McCarthy is making himself hostage to members who will never like him. That means a difficult speakership - and perhaps a short one as well.

📰 Dig deeper: Kevin McCarthy wants to block three Democrats from committees if he becomes House speaker

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is McCarthy promising to keep 3 Democrats off of House committees?