Conservative US Republicans drove frontrunner Kevin McCarthy out of the race to be the next speaker of the House Thursday, plunging their party into disarray and triggering a scramble to find the chamber’s next leader.
The political pandemonium set off by McCarthy’s announcement — which appeared to take most lawmakers by complete surprise — comes as Congress must dig into crucial federal budget and debt ceiling battles, when a speaker’s firm hand at the tiller might be most needed.
McCarthy, the party’s number two in the House behind outgoing speaker John Boehner, appeared to have support from most Republican lawmakers for Congress’s top job — until his withdrawal from consideration.
The 50-year-old Californian, who as majority leader has built connections among conservatives and moderates alike, fell victim to an intense right-flank revolt as he sought the role that would have placed him immediately behind the vice president in the line of presidential succession.
“I’ll stay on as majority leader. But the one thing I found in talking to everybody — if we are going to unite and be strong, we need a new face to help do that,” McCarthy told reporters after announcing his decision at a party meeting where the vote was to occur.
The House leadership subsequently postponed the party election, without setting a new date.
Boehner had announced October 29 for the full vote on the House floor to choose the new speaker, but McCarthy’s withdrawal potentially puts that scheduling in doubt.
It also intensifies a battle for the direction of the Republican Party as its presidential candidates seek to reclaim the White House in 2016 after eight years under Democrat Barack Obama.
Seeking to calm the waters after McCarthy’s exit, Boehner — who announced his resignation last month, effective October 30 — issued a statement saying he would stay on “until the House votes to elect a new speaker.”
“And I’m confident we will elect a new speaker in the coming weeks,” he added.
Ahead of McCarthy’s withdrawal, about 40 hardline conservatives known as the House Freedom Caucus pledged to oppose him, raising the prospect that he would be forced to offer them major concessions.
“He said he didn’t think he is the right man to be the face of the party,” said conservative congressman Walter Jones.
Lawmakers seemed unsure of what would happen next.
“I don’t think the outcome is clear at all at this point,” said congressman Trent Franks, another conservative.
– Political earthquake –
The Republican caucus has been bitterly divided, with staunch conservatives demanding a greater say for rank-and-file members in the legislative process and in leadership.
Little-known congressman Daniel Webster tapped into that frustration, announcing his candidacy for speaker by saying he would work to bring a bottom-up style to the job.
On Wednesday, he earned the Freedom Caucus’s endorsement.
“I believe that a few people at the top of a pyramid of power have controlled this place for a long time,” Webster told Fox News after McCarthy’s withdrawal.
Asked if there was a compromise candidate to unite the feuding Republican tribes, Webster said: “I’m hoping that I’ll be able to bridge that gap.”
Moderates were quick to blame uncompromising conservatives for the chaos.
“At some point we have to marginalize the rejectionist members of the conference,” congressman Charlie Dent told reporters, saying it was important to nominate a Republican who “wouldn’t make ridiculous concessions to the folks who don’t want to govern.”
– Eyes on Paul Ryan –
House Ways and Means Committee chairman Paul Ryan, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2012, has credibility among the establishment, as well as rebellious conservatives.
But he reiterated Thursday he would not seek the gavel.
“Kevin McCarthy is the best person to lead the House, and so I’m disappointed in this decision,” he said.
But an undercurrent of Ryan interest was evident, amid reports Boehner himself on Thursday urged Ryan to run.
“I think there’s probably going to be pressure on him,” House Appropriations Committee chairman Hal Rogers told AFP of Ryan.
“Everybody’s favorite would be the one that can get 218,” a majority on the House floor, added congresswoman Kristi Noem.
“Right now it looks like the two people who could potentially do that would be Trey Gowdy or Paul Ryan.”
The McCarthy announcement hit Capitol Hill like an earthquake, prompting warnings from Democrats.
“The utter chaos of the Republican party must not threaten the full faith and credit of the United States and the American people,” said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, referring to the looming debt ceiling battle.
Congress must raise the US borrowing limit by November 5 or risk a credit default.
It also must craft a budget agreement before December 11 or face a government shutdown.