House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) believes that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will secure the necessary votes to become the speaker of the House.
Hoyer was so confident that he said he would be “surprised” if McCarthy didn’t lock down the votes, he told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. He also appeared to show admiration for his Republican adversary’s dedication, adding that it would be a testament to his leadership ability if he is able to win the position.
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“If he gets 218 votes, has the ability to put together the votes to be the leader of the party, and he will then be tested as to whether or not he can lead,” Hoyer said. “But, you know, he’s worked pretty hard at it. He got close to the Holy Grail, and he had to step back. But he didn’t give up. He kept going, and it appears to me that he will be the speaker.”
His comment comes as increasing doubts are cast about McCarthy’s chance to become House speaker, mainly due to a roadblock formed by Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Bob Good (R-VA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), and Matt Rosendale (R-MT), who have pledged to oppose McCarthy’s bid.
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The Republicans’ disappointing performance in the midterm elections gave the party only a slight majority in the House, meaning McCarthy needs to secure nearly every Republican vote if he hopes to obtain the half of the House needed to be elected as speaker. The vote will take place on the first day of the new 118th Congress, on Tuesday.
