With the midterm elections winding up, it looks like Republicans will finally secure a slim majority in the House of Representatives.

Before voting began, most assumed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) would step into the role of Speaker. However, with the GOP underperforming, that’s no longer a certainty.

In fact, McCarthy just got a tough challenger for the high-ranking position.

News of the possible shift began to circulate over the weekend, when it became clear that the “red wave” didn’t happen. Republicans started to think they needed a change in leadership.

Not long after, Rep. Matt Gaetz went on the Charlie Kirk Show and said he wouldn’t be voting for McCarthy:

Matt Gaetz says Kevin McCarthy will not be Speaker and he will vote against him. pic.twitter.com/Pvraq1tazv

— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) November 14, 2022

Gaetz added that he’s not the only person who’s likely to vote against Rep. McCarthy for Speaker.

And today, the California Republican just got his first official challenger (from Breitbart):

Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) said Monday on Newsmax TV’s ‘Prime News’ he was challenging House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy for the GOP nomination to be speaker of the House when the caucus votes Tuesday.

Biggs said “we have a new paradigm” and he believes America wants “a different direction” in the House.

The Arizona GOP member admitted that McCarthy had raised a lot of money for the party, and he made strides for Republicans in recent years. But he also believes people think we need a change.

Biggs then confirmed that he would be going for Speaker, and now it’s time to see how many will support him over McCarthy.

It’s likely that McCarthy remains the favorite in the race, but disappointment in the midterm results could sway opinion in D.C. Right-wing citizens seem to  be clamoring for a change as well.

Also this week, Sen. Josh Hawley was quoted as saying it was “time to bury the GOP” and “replace it with something better.”

With 2024 looming large now and the race for the presidency more important than ever, it’s imperative that Republicans establish their “new identity” before the next campaign kicks off.

UPDATE: Kevin McCarthy officially won the nomination of his party for the position of Speaker, with a vote of 188-31 versus Andy Biggs. So now the Republicans will need to rally around him to install him as Speaker when it goes to a full vote in the House.

Key Takeaways:

• House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy gets his first official challenger for House Speaker.
• It’s Arizona Republican Andy Biggs, who believes the country wants a “different direction” in the chamber.
• Republicans are seeking to change high-ranking positions after underperforming in the midterm elections.

Sources: Breitbart, Washington Examiner