In a move that some of his colleagues questioned was a joke, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said on Wednesday that he supports former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., for the position of Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair.
Gaetz, who led McCarthy’s removal from the House speakership in October of last year, supported McCarthy as a possible successor to RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel in the wake of her resignation.
“I wholeheartedly support Kevin McCarthy to lead the RNC. Kevin is a highly successful fundraiser who is extremely well-organized. The RNC Committee will likewise think highly of him. The RNC Chair never sets agendas, decides on policies, or engages in negotiations with Democrats. Kevin would be amazing “On Tuesday, Gaetz wrote.
In response, he wrote to The Calvin Coolidge Project, which quoted sources to say that McCarthy’s fundraising prowess was being considered as a “dark horse candidate” to unseat McDaniel.
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When asked about the message by Politico on Wednesday, Gaetz repeatedly told the publication that “the tweet speaks for itself.”
At Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this week, McDaniel and former President Donald Trump had a meeting. Trump said on his Truth Social that McDaniel was a “friend” but that following the South Carolina GOP presidential primary, he would be pushing for changes at the RNC.
Regarding Gaetz’s support of McCarthy, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., told Politico, “My first thought was Matt sure knows how to troll.” “I thought it was tongue in cheek.”
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said, “I detected a hint of irony in that statement.”
Whatever Gaetz’s motivations, several Florida House Republicans concurred that McCarthy’s track record of fundraising would make him a great RNC chair.
Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., told Politico, “That’s a tip of the hat to Gaetz to get somebody with new energy, new perspective, and a proven track record of being just a massive fundraiser.” Bean acknowledged that McCarthy’s campaign contributions were crucial to his election. “If you’re looking for somebody to build a majority, I think Kevin McCarthy would be the guy.”
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Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Florida, stated that McCarthy “did a heck of a job as Speaker.”
Diaz-Balart continued, “That’s fascinating about Gaetz’s support for McCarthy.” “That is fascinating.”
The 168 members of the RNC committee would need to approve McDaniel’s replacement if she were to step down.
