Congress swearing in and GOP leadership vote 2023- QHN

The heated conference meeting among Republican lawmakers didn’t change GOP leader Kevin McCarthy’s math problem: He doesn’t have 218 votes and the hardliners aren’t moving.

Republican Rep. Bob Good said, “nothing has changed” after the meeting, adding that he is still a “NO,” no matter what. “I don’t think he won anybody over that he didn’t have already,” adding that they feel even more strongly that their “cause is just.”

Republican Rep. Andy Biggs says he is still running as an alternative and won’t drop out. That will siphon votes away from McCarthy.

Republican Matt Rosendale told CNN McCarthy “lied” in his remarks at the meeting. He made clear he’s still opposed to McCarthy and said the meeting further inflamed tensions. 

Rep. Chip Roy wouldn’t say whether he will support McCarthy as speaker, adding that he wants “someone who will fight for the American people as much as fighting to be Speaker, and that’s what I’m trying to work for.”

Reps. Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert, both opposed to McCarthy as speaker, went into Rep. Andy Biggs’ office. Boebert told reporters that she “will not be voting for Kevin McCarthy”

Rep. Dan Bishop also came out in opposition to McCarthy after the meeting. He is one of the nine GOP lawmakers who wrote the Sunday letter saying concessions so far were not good enough.

But McCarthy told members he’s not dropping out.

“He says he’s not going anywhere,” Republican Brett Guthrie said of McCarthy. “I think Kevin should stay however long it takes.”

One GOP lawmaker says Freedom Caucus members couldn’t say what they wanted from McCarthy. “When asked point blank what more they wanted HFC couldn’t answer. Says a lot.”

Another source says House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy pressed GOP Rep. Scott Perry on that and he wouldn’t say.