Kevin McCarthy now appears likely to become the Man of the House … of Representatives when Congress convenes its new term in January.
Republican House candidates have secured the body’s 218th GOP seat, giving Republicans the gavel.
It’s not yet a cinch that McCarthy will succeed his fellow Californian, Nancy Pelosi, as speaker. The GOP’s underwhelming performance in the 2022 midterm election — which was supposed to produce a Republican tsunami that would sweep Democrats out of office — has brought plenty of recrimination to McCarthy.
McCarthy said he’ll seek the speakership. He will have a fight on his hands, not that I really care.
Whoever takes the speaker’s gavel from Pelosi will take command of what appears to be a razor-thin majority. The projections tell us the Rs will finish with 219 seats, compared to the Ds with 216. No wiggle room, man.
The red wave never materialized. The new Congress will be fun to watch … don’t you think?