01 January 2023

ARIZONA FAR-RIGHT FRINGE: Andy Biggs to challenge Kevin McCarthy for speaker on House floor

 


www.foxnews.com

Andy Biggs to challenge Kevin McCarthy for speaker on House floor

Haris Alic
3 - 4 minutes

Rep. Andy Biggs announced Tuesday that he would challenge Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for speaker on the House floor in January. 

Biggs, R-Ariz., announced his intention to oppose McCarthy in an op-ed with the Daily Caller.

"We cannot let this all too rare opportunity to effectuate structural change pass us by because it is uncomfortable to challenge the Republican candidate who is a creature of the establishment status quo, or because the challenge is accompanied by some minimal risk," wrote Biggs. 

The Arizona hardliner previously challenged McCarthy in the contest designating the GOP's candidate for speaker. Biggs was defeated by a margin of 188 to 31." 

VIDEO

4 days ago · Dec. 28, 2022 - 3:20 - Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., discusses the Supreme Court keeping Title 42 in place temporarily, the Democrats' massive spending bills, and ...


www.wsj.com

Kevin McCarthy’s Speaker Bid Faces Final Hurdle 

Natalie Andrews
2 minutes

The House of Representatives is preparing to elect its new Speaker of the House. WSJ’s Natalie Andrews explains who is in the running, what’s at stake for both parties and what we can expect to see after the votes have been tallied. Photo Illustration: Adele Morgan

"WASHINGTON—For Kevin McCarthy, the last decade and a half spent climbing the Republican Party ranks in Congress have led to Jan. 3. 


The House is set to vote Tuesday to choose the next speaker, with the California congressman the choice of most Republicans as the GOP reclaims the majority after defeating Democrats in the midterms. With the gavel nearly within his grasp, Mr. McCarthy now must overcome a small but determined group of GOP critics who, because of the party’s slim majority, have the power to block his bid. . ." 

READ MORE 

6 hours ago · The House is set to vote Tuesday to choose the next speaker, with the California congressman the choice of most Republicans as the GOP reclaims ...

Top stories 

2 days ago · Five holdouts have already said they would vote as a bloc opposing McCarthy's speakership, including Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Ralph Norman

1 day ago · Conservatives vying to derail Kevin McCarthy's speaker bid may not be able to stop him. But forcing multiple votes — the record is 133 — could ...





2 days ago · House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is floating a last-minute deal to bring conservative holdouts in line and clinch the speakership.
15 hours ago · Kevin McCarthy's Speaker Bid Faces Final Hurdle. California Republican must overcome a narrow bloc of GOP critics in Tuesday's vote.

www.bloomberg.com

McCarthy Gets GOP Challenge for US House Speaker From Arizona Conservative

Billy House, Erik Wasson
1 minute

Andy Biggs

Andy Biggs

Photographer: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Representative Andy Biggs, a staunch conservative from Arizona, is telling his GOP colleagues that he’s planning to challenge House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy in his bid to become speaker next year.

The move by Biggs, 64, who likely doesn’t have the votes to replace McCarthy, is part of a ploy by far-right Republicans to wield their influence in what is expected to be a narrow GOP majority following the midterm elections." 

www.foxnews.com

Andy Biggs to challenge Kevin McCarthy for speaker on House floor

Haris Alic
3 - 4 minutes

Rep. Andy Biggs announced Tuesday that he would challenge Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for speaker on the House floor in January. 

Biggs, R-Ariz., announced his intention to oppose McCarthy in an op-ed with the Daily Caller.

"We cannot let this all too rare opportunity to effectuate structural change pass us by because it is uncomfortable to challenge the Republican candidate who is a creature of the establishment status quo, or because the challenge is accompanied by some minimal risk," wrote Biggs. 

The Arizona hardliner previously challenged McCarthy in the contest designating the GOP's candidate for speaker. Biggs was defeated by a margin of 188 to 31. 

KEVIN MCCARTHY'S GOP DETRACTORS RECEIVED FINANCIAL HELP FROM HIM BEFORE OPPOSING SPEAKER BID

"We cannot let this all too rare opportunity to effectuate structural change pass us by because it is uncomfortable to challenge the Republican candidate who is a creature of the establishment status quo, or because the challenge is accompanied by some minimal risk," wrote Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs.

"We cannot let this all too rare opportunity to effectuate structural change pass us by because it is uncomfortable to challenge the Republican candidate who is a creature of the establishment status quo, or because the challenge is accompanied by some minimal risk," wrote Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Since the vote, Biggs and four other Republicans have pledged to vote against McCarthy on the house floor in January. The opposition is potentially problematic given that the GOP is slated to hold a narrow 222-213 majority next year, and at least 218 votes are needed to become speaker.

MCCARTHY WARNS KEY GOP AGENDA COULD BE STALLED IF LEADERSHIP VOTE DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD

Biggs' candidacy is largely seen as an opportunity to showcase that McCarthy cannot get the 218 votes required to be speaker. McCarthy's opponents say that once that reality becomes clear, other alternatives will step up. 

Allies of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy note there is no public alternative to the California Republican. 

Allies of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy note there is no public alternative to the California Republican.  (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

"This is a process-of-elimination exercise," said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. "Right now, any five people for any reason or no reason at all can determine that they have veto power."

Allies of McCarthy note, however, that there is no viable alternative to the California Republican.

"There is no viable alternative to Kevin McCarthy. He has led us to the majority," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.

"There is no viable alternative to Kevin McCarthy. He has led us to the majority," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. (Reuters/Mike Blake)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"There is no viable alternative to Kevin McCarthy. He has led us to the majority," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. "He has led from the legitimate center of our party, respecting people to his left and to his right. And that's the definition of what we want in a speaker."

Fox News' Kelly Laco contributed to this report.

Haris Alic is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering Congress. 

LP

What's News

No comments: