Kevin McCarthy Wins GOP Speaker Nomination, Despite 31 Opposing Votes Against Him

GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy today won the GOP Speaker nomination, despite 31 opposing votes against him.

McCarthy faced a last-minute challenge from U.S. House Rep Andy Biggs (R-AZ), a former chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

Although it hasn’t been fully confirmed that Republicans will be taking over the majority in the House, it is projected they will do so at this point by at least a 220-215 margin.

Conservatives have remained steadfast that McCarthy does not have 218 votes necessary to become the Speaker ultimately, but McCarthy’s allies appear confident that he will be able to rally the votes.

Biggs said told Steve Bannon today on his “War Room” podcast that there are a “significant number of hard no’s” for McCarthy in the House GOP. 

Former Florida state rep Anthony Sabatini responded to the news in a tweet as he reported that, “RINO Kevin McCarthy FAILS to reach 218 Republican votes in the Conference meeting today.”

“Which mean[s] he doesn’t have the votes needed to become Speaker of the House GREAT NEWS! Time for new nominations before the real vote takes place in January,” Sabatini insisted.

BREAKING: RINO Kevin McCarthy FAILS to reach 218 Republican votes in the Conference meeting today

Which mean he doesn’t have the votes needed to become Speaker of the House

GREAT NEWS!

Time for new nominations before the real vote takes place in January 🇺🇸

— Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) November 15, 2022

Previously, we reported that Biggs was likely to challenge McCarthy for the Speaker position.

Andy Biggs Likely to Challenge Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House

We also reported that U.S. House Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) announced that she was against a challenge to McCarthy becoming Speaker because it would be a “bad strategy.”

MTG Against Challenge to Kevin McCarthy for Speaker, Equates Never Kevin to Never Trump