A contingent of far-right House Republicans is plotting an attempt to remove Kevin McCarthy as House speaker as early as next week, a move that would throw the chamber into further disarray in the middle of a potential government shutdown, according to four people familiar with the effort who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.
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Some members of the far-right faction of the party are coalescing around nominating a member of McCarthy’s leadership team, Rep. Tom Emmer (Minn.), to be the next speaker if they can successfully oust McCarthy, according to those people. The members think Emmer is more attuned to their concerns and will better deliver conservative results.
Amid GOP confusion, U.S. braces for ‘first-ever shutdown about nothing’
The effort to replace McCarthy with one of his top deputies is the latest example of the acrimony and chaos that has upended the Republican conference this year and has Congress on the path to a government shutdown. Many within the GOP conference, including McCarthy allies, have long warned that McCarthy’s leadership would be tested during the fight to fund the government because of promises he made to far-right lawmakers in January to win the speaker’s gavel.
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Emmer, according to two people who have spoken to him, has not indicated whether he would want to pursue the speakership or support a measure to oust McCarthy.
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(Kent Nishimura for The Washington Post)
A government shutdown could affect many services that people rely on, follow live updates as the shutdown looms. Here’s what you need to know about how it will affect you if you use nutrition programs like WIC or SNAP, if you’re on Medicaid or Medicare, if you’re a government employee or contractor, if you’re traveling by air or need a passport.
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“I fully support Speaker McCarthy. He knows that and I know that,” Emmer told The Washington Post in a statement. “I have zero interest in palace intrigue. End of discussion.”
How the government shutdown will impact federal employees and contractors
It’s unclear if far-right members will move forward with the plan or if the plotting is simply a warning to McCarthy about the seriousness of their displeasure. But some members have emphasized that removing McCarthy is “inevitable” and “imminent” and they are calculating the right time to try to do it.
One lawmaker said they want McCarthy to leave the speakership with “some grace,” meaning that a motion would happen if the government shuts down and McCarthy has exhausted all options to keep it open with only Republican votes.
Finger-pointing and blame in Congress as shutdown looms
1:41
With only two days left before the federal government shuts down and millions of Americans stop getting paid, members of Congress are frustrated and worried. (Video: Anna Liss-Roy/The Washington Post)
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a consistent McCarthy foil, has twice on the House floor, as recently as this week, threatened to bring up a “motion to vacate,” which begins the process that could lead to McCarthy’s ouster. But those familiar with the plans say Gaetz could move as early as Sunday, triggering a 48-hour process to hold a vote.
The disaffection with McCarthy among hard-liners has grown even as he has consistently placated them, and even as the government heads toward a shutdown. Hard-liners say McCarthy wasted months of valuable time over the summer by refusing to negotiate spending bills that address their demands, even though many of these members have prevented movement on several bills funding the government for the full year.
“He’s done some good things, but I’m tired of messaging votes,” one House Freedom Caucus member said.
How a likely government shutdown will affect D.C. region
Multiple lawmakers said they have had conversations with Emmer about their plan to position him as the replacement for McCarthy.
“[I told Emmer] that his name has been floated around as a replacement if Kevin falters,” said a Republican House lawmaker who had high praise for Emmer. The lawmaker said he has spoken to Emmer twice about replacing McCarthy, including as recently as Tuesday.
Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), standing, checks in with colleague Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in January during the process to elect a House speaker. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
Emmer has been a key ally to McCarthy, a person close to Emmer said, pointing to his working “around-the-clock” to find votes for McCarthy’s election as speaker, as well as over the past several weeks, doing meetings and phone calls with members to unlock the House floor and find an agreement on government funding. He also worked closely with McCarthy to win Republican seats as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee over the past two election cycles.
Keeping up with politics is easy with The 5-Minute Fix Newsletter, in your inbox weekdays.
Some members of the far-right faction of the party are coalescing around nominating a member of McCarthy’s leadership team, Rep. Tom Emmer (Minn.), to be the next speaker if they can successfully oust McCarthy, according to those people. The members think Emmer is more attuned to their concerns and will better deliver conservative results.
Amid GOP confusion, U.S. braces for ‘first-ever shutdown about nothing’
The effort to replace McCarthy with one of his top deputies is the latest example of the acrimony and chaos that has upended the Republican conference this year and has Congress on the path to a government shutdown. Many within the GOP conference, including McCarthy allies, have long warned that McCarthy’s leadership would be tested during the fight to fund the government because of promises he made to far-right lawmakers in January to win the speaker’s gavel.
ADVERTISING
Emmer, according to two people who have spoken to him, has not indicated whether he would want to pursue the speakership or support a measure to oust McCarthy.
Skip to end of carousel
How a government shutdown could affect you
(Kent Nishimura for The Washington Post)
A government shutdown could affect many services that people rely on, follow live updates as the shutdown looms. Here’s what you need to know about how it will affect you if you use nutrition programs like WIC or SNAP, if you’re on Medicaid or Medicare, if you’re a government employee or contractor, if you’re traveling by air or need a passport.
End of carousel
“I fully support Speaker McCarthy. He knows that and I know that,” Emmer told The Washington Post in a statement. “I have zero interest in palace intrigue. End of discussion.”
How the government shutdown will impact federal employees and contractors
It’s unclear if far-right members will move forward with the plan or if the plotting is simply a warning to McCarthy about the seriousness of their displeasure. But some members have emphasized that removing McCarthy is “inevitable” and “imminent” and they are calculating the right time to try to do it.
One lawmaker said they want McCarthy to leave the speakership with “some grace,” meaning that a motion would happen if the government shuts down and McCarthy has exhausted all options to keep it open with only Republican votes.
Finger-pointing and blame in Congress as shutdown looms
1:41
With only two days left before the federal government shuts down and millions of Americans stop getting paid, members of Congress are frustrated and worried. (Video: Anna Liss-Roy/The Washington Post)
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a consistent McCarthy foil, has twice on the House floor, as recently as this week, threatened to bring up a “motion to vacate,” which begins the process that could lead to McCarthy’s ouster. But those familiar with the plans say Gaetz could move as early as Sunday, triggering a 48-hour process to hold a vote.
The disaffection with McCarthy among hard-liners has grown even as he has consistently placated them, and even as the government heads toward a shutdown. Hard-liners say McCarthy wasted months of valuable time over the summer by refusing to negotiate spending bills that address their demands, even though many of these members have prevented movement on several bills funding the government for the full year.
“He’s done some good things, but I’m tired of messaging votes,” one House Freedom Caucus member said.
How a likely government shutdown will affect D.C. region
Multiple lawmakers said they have had conversations with Emmer about their plan to position him as the replacement for McCarthy.
“[I told Emmer] that his name has been floated around as a replacement if Kevin falters,” said a Republican House lawmaker who had high praise for Emmer. The lawmaker said he has spoken to Emmer twice about replacing McCarthy, including as recently as Tuesday.
Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), standing, checks in with colleague Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in January during the process to elect a House speaker. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
Emmer has been a key ally to McCarthy, a person close to Emmer said, pointing to his working “around-the-clock” to find votes for McCarthy’s election as speaker, as well as over the past several weeks, doing meetings and phone calls with members to unlock the House floor and find an agreement on government funding. He also worked closely with McCarthy to win Republican seats as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee over the past two election cycles.
