Hard-Right Rep. Andy Biggs To Oppose McCarthy For House Speakership—Could Cause Historic Floor Showdown

Topline

Conservative firebrand Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) announced Tuesday he will challenge Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for the House speakership when the GOP takes control of the lower chamber next year, setting up what could be the first open fight for the role in a century as the hard right holds out on supporting McCarthy.

Key Facts

Biggs announced his bid in a Daily Caller opinion piece, labeling McCarthy an out-of-touch “establishment candidate,” claiming he has not fought back enough against President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats’ agendas, especially on spending proposals.

Biggs seems to have effectively no shot of actually becoming speaker—he lost an internal Republican speaker nomination vote to McCarthy 188-31 last month—but his bid significantly complicates McCarthy’s chances of cruising to victory.

Republicans are on pace to capture 222 House seats in the next Congress, just clearing the 218-seat threshold required for a majority and giving the party full control over deciding the next speaker—if its members can coalesce around a single candidate.

Last month’s Republican nomination vote was by secret ballot, leaving it unclear exactly who supported Biggs and whether that support will translate to a full House vote, but just five votes would be enough to derail McCarthy’s bid if no House Democrats support the California Republican, which is expected, leading to multiple rounds of voting until a speaker is chosen.

Crucial Quote

“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,” Biggs said.

Surprising Fact

It has not taken multiple ballots to elect a House speaker since 1923, when then Speaker Frederick Gillett (R-Mass.) faced opposition from progressive Republicans in his party before making a deal to win their support on the ninth ballot. The other 13 occasions where it took multiple ballots to select a speaker all occurred before the Civil War.

Key Background

McCarthy and Republican leaders are facing backlash after the party performed well below expectations in the midterm elections, which has only exacerbated party divisions. Moderates have blamed the poor showing on the looming presence of former President Donald Trump as a top GOP figure, while many on the hard right have doubled down on their embrace of Trump and called for congressional leadership to be replaced. The staunchly conservative 50-member House Freedom Caucus, which Biggs used to lead, looks to play a pivotal role in determining McCarthy’s fate. The group is expected to make demands in exchange for votes, such as the ability to call a vote to oust the speaker.

Contra

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), widely considered the most extreme right-wing member of Congress, does not back plans to oppose McCarthy, calling it a “bad strategy.” McCarthy has suggested he will appoint Greene to powerful committees after Democrats removed her from committee assignments last year over her embrace of the QAnon conspiracy theory and for previously endorsing the killing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Further Reading

House Ousts Marjorie Taylor Greene From Committees With Eleven GOP Votes (Forbes)

Rick Scott To Challenge Mitch McConnell As Senate Republican Leader (Forbes)

Kevin McCarthy Fends Off Challenge For House Speaker Nomination—But Still Doesn’t Have The Votes To Win (Forbes)

Not A Red Wave But A Ripple: Biggest Surprises From Election Night (Forbes)