A senior Democrat blasted Republican Kevin McCarthy (CA) in a floor speech nominating incoming Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for House speaker.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) mocked McCarthy, who is vying for the speakership himself, for his support of former President Donald Trump as Aguilar praised Jeffries amid a contentious speaker’s election on Tuesday. The first day of the 118th Congress will decide if McCarthy’s weeks of negotiating with the conservative wing of his conference end with the gavel in his hand.
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“[Jeffries] does not traffic in extremism,” Aguilar said in the speech. “He does not grovel to or make excuses for a twice-impeached, so-called former president. Madame Clerk, he does not bend the knee to anyone who would seek to undermine our democracy because, Madame Clerk, that’s not what leaders do.”
Aguilar hit on the two failed impeachments of Trump and alluded to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Democratic rhetoric has focused on noting Trump’s sway over the Republican Party, which Democrats say has fallen under the control of “extreme MAGA Republicans.” McCarthy was mostly supportive of Trump during his presidency but faces noteworthy opposition from conservatives associated with the House Freedom Caucus who see him as too establishment.
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McCarthy lost the first round of votes for the speaker of the House when 19 Republicans voted against him. Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) were the two top alternates, while all Democrats voted for Jeffries. The vote will move to a second ballot.
