Republican says threat to McCarthy’s Speakership ‘inevitable’ if he doesn’t meet conservative demands

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) said Tuesday that a threat to Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R) Speakership is “inevitable” if he does not meet conservative demands and requires help from Democrats to avert a government shutdown.

“It’s going to be detrimental to leadership in the House, if they blow off the concerns of the people like myself and the Freedom Caucus and some of the other people on the right that are making reasonable demands in this problem,” Jackson said on Steve Bannon’s “War Room.” “It’s going to be a problem.”

Asked if he is prepared to move to vacate McCarthy’s Speakership, Jackson responded, “I think that’s inevitable.”

“I think if we continue to rely on the Democrats to pass important legislation out of the House, it’s going to be a real problem for leadership. And I think the way the rules are set up now, that’s inevitable that’s going to happen,” he said.

Last week, McCarthy told GOP lawmakers the House will likely have to pass a short-term solution known as a continuing resolution to keep the government open past the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. Lawmakers have struggled to come to an agreement over appropriations levels as conversatives push to cut spending. 

The conservative House Freedom Caucus said Monday it will oppose any stopgap government funding that does not include policy measures in connection with the border, the “weaponization” of the Department of Justice and “woke” policies in the Pentagon. 

The congressional caucus said its members want any stopgap to “include the House-passed ‘Secure the Border Act of 2023’ to cease the unchecked flow of illegal migrants, combat the evils of human trafficking, and stop the flood of dangerous fentanyl into our communities.” 

Earlier this month, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and 14 other Texas Republicans, including Jackson, pledged to vote against any continuing resolution or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill without taking “necessary steps to secure the border.”

And Jackson himself has vowed to vote against any continuing resolution brought to the floor that does not slash funding for the Department of Justice.

The demands are putting pressure on House GOP leaders, who can only risk a handful of votes in their slim majority before relying on Democratic support to pass any bills.

Any official Freedom Caucus position requires support from at least 80 percent of the group’s membership. With around three dozen Republicans in the House Freedom Caucus, they have more than enough votes to sink any party-line measure. 

“McCarthy is going to have to listen to the people on the right or else he’s going to have to rely on the Democrats to pass this,” Jackson said.