Congressional Republicans said they expect former Speaker Kevin McCarthy to step down from his seat by the end of the year.
Multiple GOP lawmakers privately said McCarthy (R-CA) will likely leave office, Axios reported. One source supposedly said the former speaker told donors he wanted to “get the hell out.” McCarthy has until December 8 to file for re-election.
“I have another week or so to decide because if I decide to run again, I have to know in my heart I’m giving 110%,” McCarthy said Wednesday, according to The New York Times. “I have to know that I want to do that. I also have to know if I’m going to walk away, that I’m going to be fine with walking away. And so I’m really taking this time now.”
McCarthy denied reports last month that he was considering stepping down from his seat before his term ended.
“No, I am not resigning,” he told reporters, per CNN. “We are going to keep the majority. I am going to help the people I got here, and we are going to expand it further.”
However, McCarthy’s Instagram post from November 22 appeared to show him in the process of cleaning out his office.
McCarthy was ousted as speaker in an October House vote, becoming the first in U.S. history to be removed from the chamber’s top position, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) spearheaded the effort, claiming the California congressman failed to deliver the promises he made in January at the start of the Republican majority. Eight GOP members voted to remove him.