“If Democrats join up to elect a moderate Republican, I will resign,” said Matt Gaetz, a Republican Representative from Florida, of Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) House speakership bid.
Gaetz made this promise during an appearance on Fox News, where he was asked by host Laura Ingraham, “Are you going to be OK, congressman – would you be OK if there’s a deal struck with moderate Democrats that give Democrats co-control of the committees? You’re fine with that?”
Rep. Gaetz responded, “Absolutely not. That will not happen.”
He went on to explain his belief that Democrats will continue to support one of their own, saying, “These 212 Democrats are going to vote for Hakeem Jeffries every single time. He’s a historic candidate. They’re not going to cleave off.”
The Florida representative is a member of the House Freedom Caucus and has voted against McCarthy in all 11 ballots that have been cast thus far.
Gaetz accused McCarthy of being “the masthead of the lobby core” and of using “lobbyists and the special interests to be able to dictate how political decisions are made, how policy decisions are made, and how leadership decisions are made.”
Rep. Gaetz stated, “I resent the extent to which Kevin McCarthy utilizes the lobbyists and the special interests to be able to dictate how political decisions are made. How policy decisions are made, how leadership decisions are made. Kevin McCarthy has been in the leadership for 14 years. He’s sold shares of himself to special interests, to political action committees, and that’s why I don’t think he’s right.”
In the interview, Gaetz also suggested that if McCarthy were to step down, Jim Jordan (OH), another Republican representative, could garner enough votes to win the Speaker’s gavel.
Gaetz said: “If Kevin McCarthy got out of this race, Jim Jordan would get into it. And I believe he would win and invigorate our movement. He’s broadly trusted in every corner of the Republican Party and with a lot of our donors and supporters and activists. That’s the type of option if McCarthy bows out.”
