Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) may be out of Congress but his work is not done. After his historic ouster as speaker of the House, McCarthy is reportedly planning revenge against the Republicans who joined Democrats in giving him the boot.
McCarthy allies are looking to recruit primary challengers to the “Gaetz Eight,” the nickname for the members of Congress who joined Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) in pushing McCarthy out of his job.
The McCarthy revenge campaign is ready to marshal the former speaker’s considerable donor network on behalf of Republican primary candidates who are deemed strong enough to pose a credible threat to one of the eight. […]
Behind the scenes, McCarthy allies have identified three of the Gaetz Eight as the most vulnerable in primaries and thus, the ripest targets: Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Bob Good (R-Va.) and Eli Crane (R-Ariz.). Mace and Good already have strong challengers, but Crane still lacks a compelling prospective candidate to take him on.
That quiet work shows McCarthy’s appetite for payback remains intense, even months after his October ouster as speaker and December departure from Congress. It also illustrates that even out of office, the former speaker and his supporters can make life miserable for his detractors — a further sign that the House GOP power struggle between burn-it-down hardliners and more establishment conservatives is alive and well.
[McCarthy ally Brian O.] Walsh is acting with McCarthy’s blessing. While the former speaker is not involved in the day-to-day work of the project, he is briefed on its progress, as are key donors, according to a person familiar with the effort who was granted anonymity to discuss it. (Politico)
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“These traitors chose to side with Nancy Pelosi, AOC and over 200 Democrats to undermine the institution, their fellow Republicans and a duly elected Speaker,” Walsh said in a statement, reports Politico. “There must be consequences for that decision.”
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