In the high-stakes political arena of Washington, Speaker Kevin McCarthy finds himself entangled in a vexing conundrum, where his most formidable adversaries emerge from within his own Republican ranks. As the looming specter of a government shutdown draws nearer, McCarthy grapples with a formidable challenge presented by a group of conservative stalwarts, led by Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), and Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.). These four unyielding hardliners, who have consistently voiced their disdain for the Speaker, have also openly threatened to dethrone him from his position of power.
What binds this quartet is their shared aspiration for higher office, fostering a growing profile that extends beyond the confines of the House. Out of this formidable foursome, only Bishop has officially thrown his hat into the ring, actively participating in a primary race for the state attorney general position in 2024. In contrast, Rosendale is poised to make a splash in the GOP primary, aiming to challenge Sen. Jon Tester (R-Mont.) in this electoral cycle. As for the other two, their ambitions span the long term—Gaetz mulls over a potential gubernatorial run in Florida in 2026, while Norman contemplates a primary challenge to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) during the same election cycle.
The political landscape is no stranger to lawmakers whose grander aspirations often spark contentious clashes with their party’s leadership as they seek to widen their audience. However, the stakes couldn’t be higher for McCarthy and his team as they navigate this perilous terrain. With the specter of a government shutdown looming large, the Speaker’s margin for error is razor-thin, and his ability to sway votes is crucial to steer the Republican party away from the precipice of a shutdown on September 30th. All the while, he must carefully navigate the treacherous waters, avoiding actions that could prompt the far-right faction to launch a challenge to his leadership.
Bishop, a prominent member of the House GOP conference, initially floated the idea of an ouster effort against McCarthy following the spring debt ceiling deal. He has now taken an even bolder step by alluding to private discussions about identifying an alternative candidate to replace the Speaker, all without divulging the name of this potential successor.
This week, GOP leaders have been publicly at odds with one or more of these four Republicans harboring ambitions for higher office. Three out of the four—Bishop, Norman, and Rosendale—delivered a stunning setback for McCarthy and his leadership team on Tuesday, derailing a defense spending bill that had garnered widespread support within the conference. Another Republican, Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, who voted against the measure, has his sights set on a future TV contract once he departs from the House.
Meanwhile, Gaetz, whose district hosts a substantial military presence, voted to advance the defense bill. Yet his name has been associated with a draft piece of legislation advocating for McCarthy’s removal, left conspicuously in a Capitol bathroom—a signal that he is poised to act on the threat he has voiced repeatedly.
House Republicans perceive Gaetz’s actions this week as emblematic of his future ambitions. He has launched a barrage of public attacks against Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), a key negotiator of the House GOP’s spending plan, widely seen as a formidable rival in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.). Gaetz’s relentless efforts to nickname the fiscal deal as the “Donalds CR” appear as an overt attempt to sow the seeds for a future electoral battle with his fellow Floridian.
However, Gaetz remains adamant that he is not yet running for governor, dismissing an NBC report that highlighted his growing interest as “overblown.” As for Donalds, his GOP allies reveal that he seemed taken aback by Gaetz’s rhetorical assault. He even raised the issue with his Freedom Caucus peers during a closed-door meeting on Monday.
In response to the escalating verbal warfare, Gaetz characterized his relationship with Donalds as friendly but expressed his belief that Donalds was “terribly misguided.” As the political drama unfolds, the Capitol becomes a battleground, where ambitions clash, alliances shift, and the stakes escalate with each passing moment.
