McCarthy Drops Out Of Speaker’s Race, Delegation Shocked

The announcement Thursday morning that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was dropping out of the U.S. House Speaker’s race provided a lot of drama and plenty of questions.

According to Roll Call, McCarthy told the House Republican Caucus that he was dropping out.

“I am not the one,” McCarthy told lawmakers during the meeting. A source close to the California Republican said it was a personal decision and he didn’t want to put his family through this,” Roll Call reported.

There are 247 Republicans and 188 Democrats in the House. While Republicans would pick the speaker in conference, the vote must be done by the entire House.

A spokesman for Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, said the announcement was surprising.

“Congressman Womack was as stunned as anyone, and he is hopeful that the GOP Conference will rally behind a candidate for Speaker that will be able to unite the party,” Womack spokesman Claire Burghoff said.

Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, said the announcement was the right thing.

“Most were surprised by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s announcement, but he said it was in the best interest of the Republican conference and our work in the House of Representatives. Kevin said he was not able to unite our conference and therefore, he was not the right guy for the job,” Westerman said in a statement.

The election for speaker has been postponed until the Republican conference can get the 218 votes needed to select a speaker.

Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, said:

“There are over 240 Republicans in Congress, and I have no doubt we will take this additional time to find a solid conservative who is ready to lead us in our mission to reduce the size of government and promote an economic environment where all Americans can prosper. I will examine all candidates for Speaker and then vote for the person most committed to advancing policies that enhance economic growth and oppose policies that hurt our national security, our consumers, and the millions of Americans that want a full-time job.”

Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, said the announcement provides an opportunity to build a united Republican party going forward.

“The U.S. House is the body most closely connected to the will of the people, and in the coming weeks I look forward to supporting a candidate who is the most capable of uniting the House towards the truest reflection of that will,” Crawford said.