Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R‑Calif.) pulled out of the running for House speaker on Thursday,according to multiple reports.
McCarthy was considered the top contender to replace House Speaker John Boehner (R‑Ohio), who will retire from Congress at the end of this month.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R‑Calif.) pulled out of the running for House speaker on Thursday.
McCarthy announced his withdrawal during a meeting in which the House Republican Conference was scheduled to pick its candidate for speaker. The election for the Republican candidate for the next speaker has also been postponed.
“If we are going to unite to be strong, we need a new face to help do that,” McCarthy said at a press conference Thursday afternoon. McCarthy added that he felt good about the decision and would stay on as majority leader.
In a statement, McCarthy said it had become clear that House Republicans are divided.
“Over the last week it has become clear to me that our Conference is deeply divided and needs to unite behind one leader,” McCarthy said in a statement. “I have always put this Conference ahead of myself. Therefore I am withdrawing my candidacy for Speaker of the House. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to help move our Conference’s agenda and our country forward.”
McCarthy withdrew his name from contention in a two-minute speech, according to one Republican who was in the room. McCarthy was considered the top contender to replace House Speaker John Boehner (R‑Ohio), who had said he would retire from Congress at the end of this month.
“He asked for the floor, and it was a two-minute speech,” Rep. Robert Pittenger (R‑N.C.) said. “He said the country is asking for a new face, new leadership, and he said I’m going to pull out. I’m not the right person for this job. I think we’re all in shock.”
Boehner was among those who were surprised at the announcement, according to Rep. Trent Franks (R‑Ariz.).
Rep. Charlie Dent (R‑Pa.) said he wasn’t sure whether McCarthy could muster enough votes to become speaker.
“I suspect had this gone to the House floor, it might have been uncertain as to whether Kevin could get 218 Republican votes,” he said.
McCarthy has been haunted by recent comments in which he praised the House Select Committee on Benghazi for hurting Hillary Clinton politically.
“That wasn’t helpful. I could’ve said it much better,” McCarthy said Thursday, adding that the comments had become a “distraction from the committee” and factored into his decision not to run for speaker.
Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R‑Utah) and Daniel Webster (R‑Fla.) were also running for speaker. On Wednesday, the conservative House Freedom Caucus endorsed Webster.
GOP Reps. Paul Ryan (Wis.), Jim Jordan (Ohio) and Trey Gowdy (S.C.) all quickly said Thursday that they were not interested in running for speaker.
“I think the Freedom Caucus just wanted to move the country in the best direction possible for America, and I believe that coincided, ironically, directly, with Kevin McCarthy’s own agenda,” said Franks, who is a member of the Freedom Caucus.
Jennifer Bendery and Michael McAuliff contributed reporting.