One GOP lawmaker's advice to Kevin McCarthy: 'Tread carefully.'
In January, when the next Congress begins, Republicans could be back in power in the lower chamber --As of Monday night, ABC News estimates that the GOP won 214 House seats in last week's midterm elections. There are 14 districts still unprojected, though Democrats lead in some, and FiveThirtyEight forecasts that Republicans may retake the House with as few as 218, which is the minimum needed.
But last week's election results indicate that McCarthy would instead have to lead with few, if any, votes to spare on those priorities from a fractious conference made up of competing viewpoints from moderates, pro-Trump representatives, fiscal conservatives and more. Pelosi noted that Democrats currently maintain a five-seat majority and have been successful in passing legislation.
Still, it remains unclear who else in the caucus would be able to challenge him. Others in leadership, like Steve Scalise, are seeking lesser positions in the intraparty election on Tuesday. "I'm very supportive of Ukraine," McCarthy told CNN last week. "I think there has to be accountability going forward."
On Monday, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., insisted in an appearance on Charlie Kirk's show that he and four other Republicans would try to block McCarthy in the leadership race. "Every five people is essentially a veto now," he said. Domestically, McCarthy could use the federal debt ceiling -- which must be raised by Congress to cover the government's financial obligations -- as leverage to obtain concessions on spending, pleasing conservatives but risking a default on the debt. Similarly tough battles are anticipated to play out over funding the government.
Greene has been vocal about impeaching Biden over a range of policy issues, while other Republicans have foreshadowed investigations of the president's son Hunter Biden -- as well as immigration, COVID-19, outgoing medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci and more.
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