Republicans appear favored to win a slim majority in the House, which would make McCarthy the front-runner for president, but Pelosi suggested to co-host Dana Bass on CNN’s “State of the Union” that McCarthy might not secure the required votes from a party administration. “Why judge something that may or may not ever happen?” Pelosi asked. “No, I don’t think he has. But that’s up to his own people to make a decision about how they want to be led or otherwise.” House GOP lawmakers will hold a closed-door leadership election, where only a majority in conference is needed to win. Ultimately, lawmakers from both parties will vote on a new President on the floor of the House, with the winner needing a 218-vote majority. With the likely Republican majority now looking narrower than many pundits had predicted, the math is tighter for McCarthy, who can only afford to lose a few members of his own party in the vote. He has worked to support the president as the party’s leadership election nears, and supporters remain confident McCarthy will emerge victorious. Young Women Break Hard for Democrats in Midterms White House Adviser Says Painting MAGA Republicans as Extremists Was ‘Effective’ Strategy The Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers who heavily support former President Trump, hopes to negotiate with GOP leaders on a plan to request rule changes for the new term. “What we want to make sure is that every member of Congress is treated fairly and equally,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.) said Thursday. “Increasingly, over decades, the power — that voice — has been concentrated in the leadership in both the Senate and the House.” Rep. Bob Goode (R-Va.), another member of the caucus, told Fox News that there will “absolutely” be a challenge to McCarthy’s bid for the presidency.
