Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said he was “disgusted” by the House GOP infighting amid the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his post that was fueled by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
Hogan said at an event at Bloomberg’s office in Washington, D.C., that his focus is on getting the Republican Party “back on track,” pointing to the House voting to oust McCarthy from the top position last week. He said that he was “disgusted” by the House’s actions, adding that Gaetz was “a cancer on the party and on the Congress.”
“It’s a train wreck. I mean, it’s embarrassing, and I think it’s terrible for the Republican Party. I think it’s terrible for Congress and for the country,” he said.
Gaetz spearheaded the successful effort to take away McCarthy’s gavel last week, when eight Republicans joined with all of Democrats to vote in favor of booting the California Republican from his position. Since then, the House GOP has been in turmoil as its members scramble to find a new Speaker.
Two lawmakers — Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) — have announced they will run for the top spot, but neither has emerged as a front-runner in the race.
Hogan, an honorary chairman of the political organization No Labels, also said at the event that he has not ruled out a 2024 bid for the White House, according to Bloomberg. He has repeatedly toyed with running for the presidency, and some have floated him as a potential candidate for No Labels, which is pushing for a bipartisan ticket to give voters an option besides former President Trump and President Biden.
“However I can serve, I’m still trying to figure that out, but I’m not walking away,” Hogan said.
“I don’t want to run a race and nibble around the edges,” he added. “If I thought there was a path to success to win the race, then I just said I wouldn’t shut the door to that opportunity.”