https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/11/politics/kevin-mccarthy-foes-blowback/index.html Donors no longer want to contribute to their campaigns. Primary opponents are lining up to take them out. And some of them have been ex-communicated from caucuses on Capitol Hill.
The eight House Republicans who took the unprecedented step of removing Kevin McCarthy from the speakership are facing blowback, both in Washington and back home. It’s a sign that even four months after the historic move, emotions are still raw inside a GOP conference that is continuing to reel from McCarthy’s ouster.
Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Bob Good of Virginia have arguably received the most incoming fire, with both now facing serious primary threats as they gear up for reelection. And Rep. Matt Rosendale, who recently jumped into the US Senate race in Montana, is facing headwinds in GOP circles — in part because of his vote to boot McCarthy — as top Republicans fear he will cost them a pivotal seat.
A well-connected GOP outside spending group is planning to play in the races against Good and Mace, while McCarthy himself is widely expected to get involved as well, according to multiple Republican sources familiar with the matter.
Meanwhile, the Main Street Caucus and Republican Governance Group, two center-right-leaning groups on Capitol Hill, have both quietly dropped Mace from their ranks, multiple sources told CNN. Neither move was publicized, but sources say frustration with the congresswoman had been brewing for months leading up to her McCarthy vote.
“She really wants to be a caucus of one. So we obliged her,” one House Republican told CNN.
For their part, Mace and Good are both downplaying the threats and expressing no regret about their votes. They are also leaning into the image of being Washington outsiders, which they believe will play well with the GOP base in their respective districts.
Anonymous
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“I’m too busy working for the Lowcountry and helping elect President Trump to worry about Kevin McCarthy’s puppet,” Mace said of one of her primary opponents. “The DC swamp doesn’t want me back — too bad. I don’t work for them, I work for the people of the 1st Congressional District and no one else.” Notably, Good still has support from his colleagues in the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, where he was recently elevated to chairman. But his controversial behavior, including his decision to endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over former President Donald Trump for president, still rankled some in the group, as CNN previously reported. Good said he was not concerned about the impact of his McCarthy vote. “I think he should bring McCarthy to campaign for him down in the district,” Good said of his primary foe. Good and Mace aren’t the only ones who find themselves targeted. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee told CNN some “very wealthy folks” shut their wallets to him in the aftermath of his vote. “They’ve been very kind to me in the past, and I hope that we can mend the fences,” Burchett said. “I can get them back in the fold. But if I don’t, I’m still friends with them. I’m not vindictive.” At least one Republican opponent had considered challenging Burchett, though ultimately opted not to last week. Still, Burchett — who said he “caught grief” for initially supporting McCarthy in January 2023 — acknowledged he could face McCarthy-fueled opposition in the August primary. “He’s got to do something with that $17 million he has, so it’ll be eight of us that probably feel the brunt of that,” Burchett said of McCarthy, who left Congress at the end of last year. “I knew exactly what I was doing. I knew I’d get opposition because of it. I still think it’s the right thing to do.”
Anonymous
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And Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, a former Freedom Caucus chairman, also told CNN he has experienced some backlash, including some GOP donors giving him the cold shoulder. But Biggs said the lawmakers — who have become known as the “Gaetz Eight,” since Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida was their ringleader — were prepared to have a target on their backs after they made their momentous decision to boot McCarthy halfway through the congressional session. “We knew that that was a risk,” Biggs told CNN. “But I’m gonna be doing everything I can to help Bob and Nancy. You know, Nancy and I don’t agree a lot. But we do agree on other issues. And I think she tries to represent her constituents.” As the eight have become persona non grata on the Capitol, they are now banding together and vowing to help protect one another. There are also signs that the current Republican leadership team, under Speaker Mike Johnson, will have their backs. “McCarthy couldn’t beat us in Washington, DC, on his home turf, where he has all the king’s horses and all the king’s men,” Gaetz told CNN. “He thinks he’s going to beat us on away games?” But while Gaetz saw a big fundraising boost in the final quarter of last year — raising $1.8 million, up from $770,000 the previous quarter — others in the group took a hit. Rosendale posted his lowest numbers of the year in the final quarter, raising just $98,000.
Anonymous
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McCarthy’s revenge tour takes shape Behind the scenes, McCarthy allies have been quietly working to exact electoral revenge on the Gaetz Eight, attempting to identify strong primary opponents. Brian O. Walsh, a GOP political consultant and McCarthy ally, has been leading the effort to recruit potential challengers, according to GOP sources familiar with the matter. Politico was the first to report Walsh’s involvement. While McCarthy himself is not yet directly involved, multiple Republicans expect the former speaker — who is still connected to a wealthy network of donors — to channel his powerful resources against Mace and Good. “If I’m those folks, one of the things that would scare the crap out of me more than anything else is an unhinged McCarthy,” one GOP lawmaker told CNN. “The guy’s the most prolific fundraiser, you’ve got a massive group of donors across the country that are pissed off about what’s happening, and you’ve got these boneheads that have caused it.” Among the most promising candidates: Catherine Templeton, an attorney and businesswoman who recently announced a bid against Mace, and John McGuire, a Navy SEAL and state representative who is challenging Good. Sources close to both of them, however, say they have not met with McCarthy and insisted they entered their races for other reasons. Still, there’s interest in McCarthy world in helping them succeed: Jeff Miller, a longtime friend and adviser to McCarthy, has donated to McGuire’s campaign, a source familiar with the effort said.
Anonymous
And Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a McCarthy ally, has formally endorsed McGuire, as well as Tim Sheehy, whom Rosendale will face in the Montana Senate primary. When asked whether he’s worried about McCarthy or his allies coming after him, Rosendale told CNN: “I’m not worried about anybody from California coming out to Montana to campaign.” In other cases, though, the recruitment effort has been less successful. Some of McCarthy’s associates have inquired about whether Mark Lamb, who is running for Senate in Arizona, would challenge Rep. Eli Crane, a member of the Gaetz Eight. But Lamb is close to Crane and Gaetz, and is uninterested in taking on Crane, according to a GOP source close to the situation. Crane told CNN he hasn’t seen any backlash from his Arizona constituents, saying: “My voters are very supportive of it.” But he also said he’s losing donors because of his vote, even as he said he mostly relies on small donors to help build his campaign. “Yeah, that’s definitely a reality,” Crane told CNN of losing donors. “And I think that anybody that participated in that knew that going forward.“ Crane, however, said he had no regrets. “I didn’t come here to play it safe or become a chairman of a committee,” the freshman Republican said. “I came here to make change. And when you do that, sometimes it means the runway’s going to be a little shorter and you might go home. But we need people up here right now who have courage.”
Anonymous
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Sources said there’s also been an effort to find a veteran to take on Gaetz in his Florida district, which has a heavy military population, but an interested candidate has yet to emerge. Plus, McCarthy’s camp sees Gaetz as more difficult to defeat. However, Mace — who has taken other controversial moves and has experienced a high level of staff turnover in recent months — is seen as easier to topple. McCarthy, who spent significant money to help Mace get elected, felt particularly burned by the congresswoman’s vote to depose him, according to sources close to the former speaker. McCarthy has left the door open to backing primary challengers against the Gaetz Eight, and has talked highly of McGuire in public appearances. In an interview with CNN following his ouster, McCarthy unloaded on his foes, saying there needs to be “consequences” and arguing Mace doesn’t deserve to be reelected. He echoed a similar sentiment to reporters last week at Trump’s Nevada caucuses watch party in Las Vegas. “If you’ve watched, just her philosophy and the flip-flopping, I don’t believe she wins reelection,” McCarthy told CNN. “I don’t think she’ll probably have earned the right to get reelected.” The Gaetz Eight get back up Johnson, however, has shown no animosity toward the McCarthy rebels, and is expected to support their reelection races. On Friday, the speaker even held a fundraiser for Burchett in his district, according to the Tennessee Republican, amid a broader swing through the state.
Anonymous
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Republicans think part of Johnson’s strategy is rooted in member management: Not only does he want to heal the wounds inside the conference, but doling out valuable chits to these members could help prevent them from acting out. To that end, Johnson announced last week that he plans to donate to Rosendale’s Senate campaign, though he is not making any endorsement after facing blowback for his initial plans to do so. Notably, Rosendale supported an Israel aid package on the floor last week, even as other members of the Freedom Caucus railed against it because it was not paid for. “The speaker has committed to sending a contribution to Congressman Rosendale, as he has for other House colleagues and friends, but he has not made any endorsements in Senate races,” said Greg Steele, the communications director for Johnson’s political team. Meanwhile, the House GOP’s campaign arm has a policy of protecting the conference’s members. And the Gaetz Eight are no exception. “We are an incumbent-driven organization and support all House Republican incumbents call,” said a spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee. ___
Anonymous
>>1265896 McCarthy acts like a fag, and gets ousted.
One of the best moments in history.
I don't know why the slugs who want to be the DNC don't just go be DNC and let the party change into what the voters want.
Oh, that's right, the uniparty will lose seats if that happens.
Fuck.
Anonymous
>>1265908 I think one of the things that is making people like him so angry is the way you call your fellow republicans leftists for performing the basic functions of the government.
Anonymous
>>1265916 It's actually for the constant compromises that go against our wishes.
The question is why don't Dems budge if they want to perform basic functions of government?
Anonymous
>>1265908 at least there's solace to be taken in the fact that you faggots inevitably eat your own
Anonymous
>>1265918 So you're saying what everyone knows: that Democrats have low standards.
Was there supposed to be a different point?
Anonymous
>>1265920 >Was there supposed to be a different point? if you could read english properly this question wouldn't be necessary
Anonymous
>>1265921 Seems I read it correctly. Do you lack critical thinking skills?
Anonymous
>>1265922 better hurry up and repeat the indian slurs people call you. that'll sure convince us
Anonymous
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>>1265923 Are you on drugs?
Anonymous
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Democrats should have APPLAUDED what those 8 brave Republicans did, instead of chimping out like robots. When Nancy Pelosi was a corrupt piece of shit as Speak of the House, raking in millions from insider trading and gambling on covid stocks, it would have been so nice to have Democrats kick her ass out. Of course that didn't happen, because Democrats have no soul.
lick my boot, male scum
>>1265900 I hope MTG gets her p****y spanked.(Although she looks like the dick spanking kind)
Anonymous
>>1265941 Can you imagine what she was like at 20 years old? She was probably sucking dicks left and right, going down the line.
Anonymous
>>1265917 Lmao. Conservative infighting is because of the dems now. MAGA headcanon is retarded.
Anonymous
>>1265961 Why not read it again, Dongsuk?
Anonymous
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>>1265961 The headcanon is even weirder because conservatives don't give a shit about passing anything. They never have. Trump spent 4 years in the white house promising the moon and all he passed were tax cuts that ran up our deficit spending. You figure conservatives would just celebrate their inability to run government because Trump has trained them to hate it so much.
hop on and ride me, cowpoke
>>1265957 >Can you imagine what she was like at 20 years old The old mare was a fine looking filly at one time, although a little long in the even then.
https://litter.catbox.moe/v4vfh4.jpg giddy up, you ol' night MARE
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>>1265977 >although a little long in the even then. although a little long in the FACE even then
Anonymous
>>1265965 Why are you talking about sucking dongs? Weirdo faggot.
Anonymous
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>>1265979 Wow keep that erection contained fagboy
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>1265917 Dems aren't the ones killing the bill for Trump, that's you guys.
Anonymous
>>1266021 What bill? The poster I replied to was obviously about to rant over government shut downs.
Which take both parties to make happen.
And now you're on the shitty bill that was shit? That's exactly the compromise bullshit I was talking about.
Anonymous
I'm convinced that if there only 2 Republicans left in Congress, they'd find a way to hate and sabotage each other. If there were just 1, they'd die not getting fucked enough like ferrets. The entire Republican operations model is deliberately make shit worse, find someone to blame, and then campaign on getting more power to stop that person or group. They just forgot you're not supposed to do that shit to your own side (or you're country, but we can't expect miracles from ratfuckers).
Anonymous
>>1266043 >nooo! you cant just have like principles and stuff >you have to give Dem's everything they want all the time or you're betraying your country t. Thought it was super-rad when Nancy stopped the Trump admin in its tracks for two years
Anonymous
>>1266044 >nooo! you cant just have like principles and stuff Principles like what? Being torn in half by extremism? Refusing to pass zero legislation and instead settle on being the party of obstruction? Promising giant bills like infrastructure and immigration and healthcare and not even drafting any of it?
>t. Thought it was super-rad when Nancy stopped the Trump admin in its tracks for two Trump had the house and senate for 2 years and passed nothing. Trump came into office claiming to be a businessman who could get everybody to the table and make deals and he failed. He made no deals. He made no compromises. 50% of the people he hired to get jobs done he ended up firing or turning on. He made no attempts at bipartisan governing. He didn't even bother introducing legislation to the house so Nancy could turn it down. Immigration? Nothing. Repeal and replace Obamacare? Nothing. Not only did he fail, he somehow managed to convince sycophantic knuckle draggers like you to defend his failure as a leader by blaming it on everyone else. Imagine the CEO of a company saying "Waaaahhh, I didn't get anything done because all my middle managers were mean to meeeee" Its the most pathetic cope imaginable. Anonymous
>>1266050 >Being torn in half by extremism? Anon, Trump is literally a 90s democrat. His platform was almost identical to Bill Clinton's, even down to his "Make America great again" slogan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWHlLsUIG8E >He made no deals. Alright you're delusional.
Anonymous
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>>1266051 Make America great again was Reagan, not Clinton (also mid century fascists, but let's just ignore that)
Anonymous
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I didn't know there were so many zoomers here
Anonymous
>>1266051 Don't bring relevant history into this!
Anonymous
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>>1266057 Your revisionist history isn't as relevant as you think it is.
Anonymous
>>1265917 Why is it the Democrats job to sort out retard republicans internal problems?
Anonymous
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>>1265896 >McCarthy, who spent significant money to help Mace get elected, felt particularly burned by the congresswoman’s vote to depose him Biting the hand that feeds you huh
Anonymous
>>1266063 Shills seem to be unable to process that post properly and keep getting it really wrong.
I'm gonna need you Ivans to go back to English class then read it again until you understand the simple meaning.
GeorgeTalbot1967
>>1266075 >The question is why don't Dems budge if they want to perform basic functions of government? Clarify this then, because that's what I was responding to. If everyone seems to be responding to your post "incorrectly," then you wrote it unclearly, dumbass.
Anonymous
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>>1266077 What is there to clarify?
I don't think I wrote it for you.
And I've already clarified it here:
>>1266025 Simply following the thread was probably all that was required. It's a short thread too.
GeorgeTalbot1967
>>1266025 >Which take both parties to make happen Republicans control the house, this is all on them.
Anonymous
>>1266087 Not passing a bill that would have let millions into the country in exchange for Biden PWOMISING to close the border for realsies was a solid Republican W.
Anonymous
>>1266095 >was a solid Republican W Well the definition of winning is losing for republitards lol, see 2020
Anonymous
>>1266095 >republicans do something you don't like >no problem just call them democrats Does this work on the retarded GOP voting base?
Anonymous
>>1266142 Weeding out traitors works for everyone.
Anonymous
>>1266154 Except Democrats who cherish Republican traitors and want to keep the status quo of Republican voters getting shit on from all sides.
Anonymous
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>>1266159 Now this is some special olympic level mental gymnastics
Anonymous
>>1266096 >Rig elections >Brag about winning as every state starts ignoring the federal government Congrats you broke the Union and now the Republicans are just gonna conquer you AGAIN.
Anonymous
>>1266142 But I like that we didn't pass that shitty amnesty bill.
Anonymous
>>1266171 I know right? Terrible piece of shit bill.
That dude's the worst shill ever.
>You failed >You failed to win at failing!!! Anonymous
>>1266173 It's all they have left, I think.
Anonymous
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>>1266169 >MAXIMUM COPE Haha you guys are losers!
Anonymous
>>1266174 The bill is still going to pass.
Anonymous
>>1266242 And you never will.
CAPTCHA: D0RK2
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>1266261 Yeah it's usually obvious you aren't.
Anonymous
>>1266281 you can't see posters here. are you hallucinating?
Anonymous
>>1266285 I was speaking in general terms.
Anonymous
>>1266293 you were being a general faggot
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>1266295 Every time you hear someone say the word "chud", Patrick Crusius gets ramrodded by an 8 foot tall buck in Federal Prison.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_El_Paso_shooting#Manifesto Anonymous
>>1266296 Another LGBTQ shooter?
Anonymous
>>1266296 >Makes rape joke >We're the good guys! Anonymous
>>1266306 Are you calling for more background checks for gun purchases yet?
Anonymous
Anonymous
>>1266313 No, I'm calling for making sodomy a felony, and not allowing mentally men in dresses to intermingle with the general public.
Anonymous
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>>1266477 and you need an excuse to feel that way so you convince yourself every mass shooter is trans?