Started out with 19 opposing McCarthy -- Can the 'Never Kevin' caucus hold the line?
Five House Republicans say they won't support Republican leader Kevin McCarthy — enough to deny him the speaker's gavel. But they're facing enormous pressure to cave.
... there are powerful forces, on and off Capitol Hill, that have a vested interest in McCarthy ascending to the speakership.
He has personally committed that once he takes power, onetime conservative critic Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., will be reinstated on her committees after Democrats booted her. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, a McCarthy ally, is expected to be appointed by him as Intelligence Committee chairman, while McCarthy just named Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., as chair of a new select committee on China.
Two years ago, as part of his courtship of Freedom Caucus members, McCarthy named Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., as his personal designee on the influential GOP Steering Committee. She’s now publicly supporting McCarthy for speaker.
"There’s always a quid pro quo — what have you done for me lately," Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said.
Asked what he'll get in exchange for his support, Burchett replied: "I get nothing. I like Leader McCarthy; I hope he’s going to be Speaker McCarthy. But I don’t kiss enough butt and I don’t raise enough money."
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