The House Freedom Caucus, the group that derailed Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bid to be speaker in 2015, isn't backing any single challenger this time around, Politico is reporting.
McCarthy, a Republican from California, remains the uncontested frontrunner for the post if the GOP takes control of the House as anticipated.
Aside from the Democrats retaining control of the House in November, McCarthy's biggest potential threat to his candidacy would be a challenger emerging from the caucus to take him on for the speaker's job.
"I hope … we're not going to mount a challenge," Freedom Caucus member Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, said in an interview. "This is the most organized we've ever been. So why would we change it?"
The Freedom Caucus, however, still plans on using its influence on the new Congress.
It is planning to push for modifications that would empower the caucus in a future Republican majority, Politico noted.
Those modifications include the power to force a speaker eviction vote. It's what's known as the "motion to vacate the chair."
Politico noted if someone from the roughly 35-member group decides to jump into the race for Speaker, the group is not expected to rally behind the person.
The news outlet also points out that Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, one of the group's most powerful members, is a close McCarthy ally.
"I don't think there's anything newsworthy there," said Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., a Jordan ally. "I often say it appears to me that Kevin has surpassing support among [the] conference to be speaker."
In 2015, the caucus, which included many Republicans from the smaller-government Tea Party movement, had endorsed long-shot Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., for the speakership.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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