(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is back for blood, now seeking to unseat the eight Republican congressmen who sided with Democrats in voting him out as the Speaker of the House.
The vengeance plan, unveiled by Politico on Thursday, involves the recruitment and financial backing of primary opponents for those who supported Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.’s motion to vacate the chair, which ultimately led to McCarthy’s removal in October 2023.
Kevin McCarthy used NRCC funds to stop MAGA candidates in the 2022 primaries and now he’s using funds raised as Speaker to fight some of our most America First candidates in the 2024 primaries
Good riddance to this uniparty snake https://t.co/4sBGT4RZkY
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) February 1, 2024
Brian O. Walsh, a Republican strategist and top McCarthy ally, is leading the plan, which according to Politico, has already identified three vulnerable primaries: Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.; Bob Good, R-Va.; and Eli Crane, R-Ariz.
“These traitors chose to side with Nancy Pelosi, AOC and over 200 Democrats to undermine the institution, their fellow Republicans and a duly elected Speaker,” Walsh declared said in a statement. “There must be consequences for that decision.”
While the former speaker and donors are not involved in the daily operations of the project, they are brief on its work, Politico reported, citing inside sources. Shortly after his ousting, McCarthy directed his ire at Mace, declaring that she had not “earned the right” to win re-election.
As recounted by Politico, the revenge plan could favor Catherine Templeton, a former South Carolina 2018 gubernatorial candidate and cabinet member under then-Gov. Nikki Haley.
For his part, Good dismissed the plan, sarcastically endorsing the idea of his opponent campaigning with McCarthy. “It would be great if my opponent brought Kevin McCarthy to the district to campaign for him. I would actually suggest that he do that,” Good declared.
The DC Swamp is coming after me with their hand-picked candidate- Jeb Bush in heels. Kevin McCarthy thinks he can buy this seat, but we won’t let that happen. Fight back today >>https://t.co/yIo0S2QlUD pic.twitter.com/kT4n9Xeg0b
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) February 1, 2024
Crane, who allegedly secured re-election in 2022 with the backing of a McCarthy-tied PAC, told Politico it was “common sense” that McCarthy would target him.
McCarthy was removed as House speaker in 2023 after Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the chair over the then-speaker’s contentious decision to pass a clean stop-gap bill funding the federal government, including the Biden administration, without any concessions for Republicans.
In a vote of 216-210, with eight Republicans joining the Democratic caucus, McCarthy became the first speaker in U.S. history to ever be removed as speaker.
McCarthy allegedly grappled with the role of being a rank-and-file lawmaker and ultimately opted to resign from Congress in December 2023.
