Florida Representative Matt Gaetz expressed his full endorsement of Kevin McCarthy for RNC Chair, praising his organizational skills and fundraising abilities.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Gaetz stated, “I fully endorse Kevin McCarthy for RNC Chair. Kevin is well organized and a very high-revenue fundraiser. He will also be well-liked by the RNC Committee.”
Gaetz’s endorsement came in response to claims made by The Calvin Coolidge Project that McCarthy was being considered as a “dark horse candidate” to replace Ronna McDaniel due to his impressive track record in fundraising.
When asked about his endorsement by Politico, Gaetz simply replied, “The tweet speaks for itself.”
Former President Trump Meets with McDaniel
Earlier this week, former President Trump met with Ronna McDaniel at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Following their meeting, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, describing McDaniel as a “friend” but expressing his intention to advocate for changes within the RNC after the South Carolina GOP presidential primary.
Some Representatives from Florida, including Rep. Byron Donalds and Rep. Tim Burchett, interpreted Gaetz’s endorsement of McCarthy as sarcastic or tongue-in-cheek. However, others, like Rep. Aaron Bean and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, recognized McCarthy’s fundraising abilities as a valuable asset.
Should McDaniel resign, her replacement will require approval from the 168 RNC committee members. However, sources suggest that no decisions will be made until after the Feb. 24 South Carolina primary. McDaniel is currently focused on ensuring a smooth merger between the RNC and the campaign operation of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
McCarthy’s History and Challenges
McCarthy previously represented the same California district from 2007 until he left Congress in late December. He was the first House speaker to be voted out of the position in U.S. history. McCarthy’s departure from the House speakership occurred just two months after a rare vote on the “motion to vacate,” orchestrated by Gaetz.
While McCarthy had support from most Republicans in the House, eight GOP members ultimately led to his ouster in October due to their disagreement with his decision to work with Democrats to delay a federal government shutdown temporarily.
McCarthy faced significant challenges when he assumed the role of House Speaker in January 2023. The GOP was grappling with deep divisions and questions about their ability to govern following Trump’s departure from office.
It remains to be seen whether McCarthy will secure the position of RNC Chair, but his fundraising prowess has garnered support from various Representatives in Florida.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.