House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) seems to be confident he will be the speaker in the next Congress — even as it appears he lacks the necessary votes.
On Monday, journalist Jamie Dupree tweeted, “In the Capitol right now, some reporters are waiting outside the Speaker’s offices. Pelosi has moved out, and McCarthy has moved in. But he’s still short on votes.”
In the Capitol right now, some reporters are waiting outside the Speaker's offices. Pelosi has moved out, and McCarthy has moved in. But he's still short on votes. pic.twitter.com/ulYsc7wtPC
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 2, 2023
And Haley Talbot, a Capitol Hill producer for NBC News, shared a video of crates being wheeled into the speaker’s office suite.
“GOP Leader McCarthy has moved into the speaker’s suite but if he fails to secure 218 he will have to move all his stuff back out,” she wrote.
GOP Leader McCarthy has moved into the speakers suite but if he fails to secure 218 he will have to move all his stuff back out @AllieRaffa pic.twitter.com/Lb2swMgQ2p
— haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) January 2, 2023
The House is slated to vote to decide who will be the next speaker on Tuesday. McCarthy would need 218 votes if the whole chamber voted.
However, it appears he is currently struggling to win the support required.
He can only afford to lose four votes, and five House Republicans have publicly stated they oppose his bid for speaker.
Politico reported on Sunday, McCarthy “announced on a private conference call that he would give his antagonists one of their top demands: The threshold to trigger a vote ousting a speaker would shrink from half the GOP conference, as had been agreed to by a majority of the members, to five dissatisfied lawmakers.”
It added, “Hours later, a group of nine House conservatives issued a letter saying that’s not good enough.”
Those nine lawmakers are not part of the five who have already declared their opposition to McCarthy.
Additionally, the outlet reported “one of the GOP fence-sitters, a member who has been in the room for these negotiations” believes lawmakers who are still undecided may not vote for the California Republican even if he meets their demands because they do not trust him.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, McCarthy seemed to express confidence he would win the vote for speaker.
When asked if he had locked in the votes, he responded, “I think we will have a good day tomorrow.”
Q: Speakers votes locked in?
— haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) January 2, 2023
KM: and take away all the excitement?
Q: do you have the votes locked in?
KM: I think we will have a good day tomorrow
Q: Leader McCarthy are you prepared to make more concessions in exchange for votes?
KM: *sigh* hope you all have a nice new years pic.twitter.com/k6HFLAUME7
After another reporter asked if he would be willing to make more concessions to become speaker, McCarthy responded, “I hope you all have a very nice New Year.”