Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) says he wants to reshape Republican politics, moving the party to a more conservative and populist standard.
“I’m trying to reshape the House in my image,” he told the Wall Street Journal, noting Republicans should want to “end the wars, shut the border, reduce the spending.”
Gaetz, noted on the right for being a firebrand, appears to be making inroads after leading the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), which some have said was the impetus for many more centrist Republicans to tender their resignations.
“There’s a certain echelon of members for whom if the cocktail parties aren’t super convenient because we’re voting all night, (as I’ve caused a time or two), if the PAC donations aren’t running over the gunnels because we’ve taken a populist position on immigration or another important matter to our voters, then some don’t see the value proposition in Congress,” Gaetz told the Washington Examiner in January. “I’m quite alright with that.”
Gaetz has been a hawk on issues like closing the Southern border, the budget, and sending foreign aid packages, as well as blasting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and calling to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, among other things.
He has worked with Democrats as well, trying to reign in the lobbyist revolving door in the nation’s capital and stock trading by legislators, as well as working with left-wing Squad member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.
Gaetz himself takes zero money from political action committees or lobbyists, according to the outlet, one of the very few to do so in Washington.
The Florida Republican has put his voice not only behind former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, but also like-minded candidates across the country in primary battles.
In Texas, Gaetz backed a challenger to Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) in an attempt to unseat him, but Gonzalez narrowly won a runoff election to become the nominee. Gaetz has also backed some candidates in races where Trump has backed a different one, such as in Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District, where House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) is currently losing a primary battle by just over 300 votes. While the results have not yet been finalized, Trump backed challenger state Sen. John McGuire after Good decided to endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in the presidential primary.
Good, however, was one of a handful of Republicans who joined the move to oust McCarthy.
“I think people give me grace for disagreement because they know I’m not full of s***, and with so many politicians, you can’t say that,” Gaetz said of the sometimes differing candidate preferences.
Gaetz is in a primary of his own, which will take place Aug. 20, though he has consistently won overwhelming victories both in primary and general elections in Florida’s 1st Congressional District. His primary challenger, Aaron Dimmock, has ties to McCarthy. Those close to the former speaker say he is focused on trying to remove Gaetz from office by throwing millions of dollars at trying to elect Dimmock, according to the outlet.
Because Gaetz does not take PAC or lobbyist money, he is aware he will not have the war chest those with institutional backing like Dimmock will.
“I’m going to be outspent by multiples for the first time in my political career,” Gaetz said, adding, hypothetically, if Dimmock “didn’t have Kevin McCarthy’s $10 million, he would be a laughingstock. Now he’s a laughingstock with $10 million.”
Some have speculated Gaetz may put his hat in the ring for statewide office, but he told the Wall Street Journal his focus is on reshaping the House and electing Trump president in 2024.
“I am singularly focused on what the House of Representatives will look like and ensuring that Donald Trump is elected president,” he said.
Gaetz explained McCarthy’s replacement, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), has been underwhelming, saying, “I like Mike personally, and it’s been very painful to be so disappointed.”
A spending battle in September is set to once again highlight differences between current Republican standard-bearers and Gaetz’s more populist contingent in the conservative movement. The four-term congressman has called out omnibus bills and continuing resolutions that have become the norm on Capitol Hill.
The House Ethics Committee is currently investigating allegations against Gaetz claiming sexual misconduct and drug use, which he vehemently denies.
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“The House Ethics Committee has closed four probes into me, which emerged from lies intended solely to smear me. Instead of working with me to ban Congressional stock trading, the Ethics Committee is now opening new frivolous investigations,” Gaetz posted to X on Monday. “They are doing this to avoid the obvious fact that every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.”
“This is Soviet. Kevin McCarthy showed them the man, and they are now trying to find the crime,” he continued. “I work for Northwest Floridians who won’t be swayed by this nonsense and McCarthy and his goons know it.”
