House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is ruling out trying to work with Democrats to save his job.
While speaking to reporters hours before the House was expected to vote on a motion to vacate the chair on Tuesday, McCarthy was asked, “Are you ruling out any sort of power-sharing agreement with Democrats?”
“That doesn’t work,” the top Republican responded.
He continued, “I know that our government’s designed to have compromise, but look, we’re in the majority, you don’t surrender.”
“Do you work with the other side? Yeah, and that’s what I’ve done,” McCarthy added.
Watch the video below:
McCarthy isn't interested in forming a coalition government with the Democrats.
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) October 3, 2023
"That doesn't work. We're in the majority. You don't surrender." pic.twitter.com/fN0t81T04t
Earlier this week, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) announced his plan to file a motion to vacate the chair and end McCarthy’s speakership after he advanced a spending bill that relied on Democratic votes to pass.
And on Monday night, the Florida congressman made good on his threat.
Still, McCarthy defended his decision to advance the spending bill as he said, “Keeping the government open and paying our troops was the right decision. I stand by that decision. And at the end of the day, if I have to lose my job over it, so be it.”
McCarthy noted he can only afford to lose five Republicans to vote for the motion to vacate if no Democrats support him, and admitted it appears there are at least that many willing to oust him.
It also appears House Democrats are not inclined to help the speaker keep his job either.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) reportedly said Democrats should vote against McCarthy.
Gaetz previously predicted McCarthy would only hold onto the speaker’s gavel if Democrats agreed to provide votes to offset Republican defections.