Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has expressed uncertainty about his future in the House of Representatives, revealing that he’s going to take the holidays and “look at all options.”
McCarthy suggested that he’s considering leaving Congress after being ousted as House speaker last month.
In a recent interview, the California Republican told CNN’s Manu Raju that he will take some time to think about his options heading into 2024.
McCarthy and other members of the House are up for re-election next year.
“I got the holidays,” McCarthy said Sunday.
“I’ll talk to my family about the ideas of what [to do] going forward and then I’ll make a decision.”
WATCH:
McCarthy on staying in the House. “There are so many ways you can do that to make sure you’re getting the job done. And I’m going to look at all options.” pic.twitter.com/8jdvHZqAeZ
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 12, 2023
McCarthy, who represents the 20th Congressional District in California, was first elected to Congress in 2006.
He has since worked his way up the GOP ranks.
He won the speaker’s gavel in the 15th round of voting in January.
However, he only secured the position after making concessions, such as restoring the ability of a single member to trigger the process that would lead to such a no-confidence vote.
Citing frustrations with McCarthy’s leadership, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a “motion to vacate the chair” in early October.
The move came after the House passed a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown.
Gaetz and seven other Republicans joined with Democrats in a 216-210 vote that ousted McCarthy.
The GOP-led House elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as its 56th speaker in late October, ending a weeks-long stalemate.
Upon losing the speakership, McCarthy assured reporters that “yes” he would seek re-election and said he would not resign.
He asserted that he had “a lot more work to do.”
However, the California Republican stressed to Raju that he is now reassessing his future plans.
After expressing a desire to make certain that Johnson had the “resources” he needs as the new speaker, McCarthy added:
“I want to make sure that I continue to do the job for my district.
“But I also want to make sure that you could — I always believe, and you would hear me all the time, you never give up in the process, right?
“Well, there’s so many ways you can do that to make sure you’re getting the job done.
“And I’m going to look at all options.”
Asked which way he is leaning, McCarthy said, “I don’t know.”
Businessman David Giglio is running to take McCarthy’s seat as an “America First” candidate aligned with President Donald Trump.
Giglio has called on the incumbent to step down.
“We cannot drain the Washington swamp by maintaining the status quo, and that’s why Kevin McCarthy must resign immediately,” Giglio said in a statement.
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