Kevin McCarthy, regarded as a shoo-in to replace John Boehner as House Speaker just a week ago, has withdrawn from the race, leaving the Republican House majority in disarray.
The Republican nominating meeting to replace Boehner has been postponed without a new date set. Word from the room was that no representative currently in the race could garner the 218 votes needed to be elected Speaker.
The determination came on the heels of yesterday’s announcement by the right wing “Freedom Caucus” that they would not support McCarthy but would stand united behind their own candidate. It was estimated that such a move would deprive McCarthy of 40 or so votes, leaving him short of the 218 he needed to ascend to the Speakership.
More at Politico and New York Times . Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA) has already begun to float the idea of a bipartisan coalition to select a new Speaker.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.