Conservative firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) endorsed former House Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) as best-suited for House speaker when Democrats relinquish the gavel to Republicans next week.
Gaetz tweeted his opposition against House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) over the holiday weekend with a cheeky call for Jordan to run. The Florida representative has been a staunch opponent to McCarthy’s bid for the speaker’s gavel.
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“I’m not voting for Kevin McCarthy,” Gaetz said back in November on the Charlie Kirk Show. “I am certain that there is a critical mass of people who hold my precise view. And so the sooner we can sort of dispense with the notion that Kevin is going to be speaker, then we can get to the important work.”
“All I want for Christmas is @Jim_Jordan to realize he should be Speaker of the House!” Gaetz wrote on Twitter the day before Christmas. The tweet was just shy of 2 million views by Monday morning.
Late Sunday evening, Gaetz followed up with a message calling on others to push Jordan to run against McCarthy.
“Merry Christmas to all! Make sure to join me in encouraging @Jim_Jordan to seek the Speakership :),” Gaetz tweeted.
The 118th Congress will convene on Jan. 3, 2023, when the House and Senate return to Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans were unsuccessful in taking back control of the upper chamber in November but pulled out a win in the House.
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Every vote is critical for McCarthy, making defectors an issue that could cost him the speakership.
McCarthy and Jordan were among four Republicans that the Jan. 6 Select Committee chose to refer to the House Ethics Committee for refusing to appear before the panel despite being subpoenaed.