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Utah Republican Jason Chaffetz enters race for House speaker Utah Republican Jason Chaffetz enters race for House speaker
(about 5 hours later)
Related: Secret service workers spied on lawmaker investigating them – report
The Utah Republican Jason Chaffetz has formally announced that he will run for speaker of the House, throwing the leadership race to succeed John Boehner into chaos.The Utah Republican Jason Chaffetz has formally announced that he will run for speaker of the House, throwing the leadership race to succeed John Boehner into chaos.
Related: Congress sidesteps government shutdown as Boehner prepares for exit
In interviews with Fox News Sunday and Politico, Chaffetz presented himself as a conservative alternative to House majority leader Kevin McCarthy, who has long been considered the likely successor to Boehner.In interviews with Fox News Sunday and Politico, Chaffetz presented himself as a conservative alternative to House majority leader Kevin McCarthy, who has long been considered the likely successor to Boehner.
Boehner, from Ohio, announced his resignation last month. He will step down at the end of October.Boehner, from Ohio, announced his resignation last month. He will step down at the end of October.
Chaffetz expressed his dissatisfaction with the status quo in the House GOP caucus and said: “Realistically, we can’t vote to promote the existing leadership.”Chaffetz expressed his dissatisfaction with the status quo in the House GOP caucus and said: “Realistically, we can’t vote to promote the existing leadership.”
He also suggested that while McCarthy could muster support from a majority of House Republicans in a secret ballot, he would be unable to get the absolute majority of congressmen in a vote on the floor of the House.He also suggested that while McCarthy could muster support from a majority of House Republicans in a secret ballot, he would be unable to get the absolute majority of congressmen in a vote on the floor of the House.
Chaffetz said he could serve as a compromise candidate, because “there are very few people who can win the support of our hardcore conservatives and yet be palatable to our more moderate members”.Chaffetz said he could serve as a compromise candidate, because “there are very few people who can win the support of our hardcore conservatives and yet be palatable to our more moderate members”.
Prior to Chaffetz’s entry into the race, McCarthy’s only announced opposition had come from the Florida congressman Dan Webster, who challenged Boehner for the speakership earlier this year and received only 12 votes.Prior to Chaffetz’s entry into the race, McCarthy’s only announced opposition had come from the Florida congressman Dan Webster, who challenged Boehner for the speakership earlier this year and received only 12 votes.
Related: Congress sidesteps government shutdown as Boehner prepares for exit
McCarthy, from California, has come under new scrutiny after comments last week in which he said the Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s “numbers are dropping” in polls because of the work of a House select committee investigating Benghazi.McCarthy, from California, has come under new scrutiny after comments last week in which he said the Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s “numbers are dropping” in polls because of the work of a House select committee investigating Benghazi.
The remark, which opened McCarthy to accusations of political bias in the conduct of Congressional business, immediately became a cudgel with which Democrats could attack the work of the committee.The remark, which opened McCarthy to accusations of political bias in the conduct of Congressional business, immediately became a cudgel with which Democrats could attack the work of the committee.
It also alienated Republicans who had long pushed for an investigation into the attack on the US facility in September 2012, in which four Americans, including the ambassador to Libya, died.It also alienated Republicans who had long pushed for an investigation into the attack on the US facility in September 2012, in which four Americans, including the ambassador to Libya, died.
House Republicans will determine their caucus’s choice to become the next speaker by secret ballot on Thursday.House Republicans will determine their caucus’s choice to become the next speaker by secret ballot on Thursday.