Biggs again challenges McCarthy for speaker, second try to oust 'establishment' candidate

Biggs challenged McCarthy for House GOP leader last month.
House Freedom Caucus chair Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.
By Madeleine Hubbard

Arizona GOP Rep. Andy Biggs on Tuesday mounted his second challenge in less than a month against House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for GOP congressional leadership.

"The left wants to see a McCarthy speakership," Biggs, former chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, the chamber's most conservative wing, wrote in an op-ed published by the Daily Caller.

"Establishment Republicans want to see a continuation of the swamp," he said, "Leader McCarthy is about to eviscerate our leverage for the balance of the Biden presidency. And here we have an establishment candidate for speaker of the House."

Biggs challenged McCarthy for House GOP leader last month. McCarthy subsequently won the House election 188-31.

While Republicans are projected to have 221 seats next Congress, internal GOP disagreements may make it difficult for McCarthy to secure the 218 votes needed in a final floor vote to be elected speaker.