House Republican leaders have told their colleagues that intraparty squabbles are counterproductive to their goals, especially given their narrow majority over Democrats.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is concerned the spats are carrying over into campaigns for the general election in November, giving Democrats a path to take control of the chamber, Axios reported Thursday.
Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told about 60 members during a closed-door meeting Thursday at the House GOP retreat in West Virginia that attacks within the conference could thwart the party's ambitions.
Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, such as Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., are campaigning against colleagues who are facing primary challenges, such as Reps. Mike Bost of Illinois, William Timmons of South Carolina, and Tony Gonzales of Texas, Axios reported.
Johnson "just excoriated those who are campaigning against other GOP incumbents in their districts," a lawmaker told Axios. "[He] said it violates our norms.
"Scalise seconded what Johnson said. There's no reason to be campaigning against each other."
Fewer than 100 of the 219 House Republicans reportedly were expected to attend the retreat, with many harboring frustrations over the constant infighting.
"Everybody's tired. I know I'm tired," a House Republican told USA Today, adding the intraparty fighting has sapped the energy from some members.
Another House Republican who did not plan to attend told USA Today that frustration remains with ultraconservative lawmakers who have impeded House action and "is wearing everyone out."
The lawmaker said there still are hard feelings about the ouster of former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker. McCarthy was ousted in October and resigned his House seat Dec. 31.
Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP's campaign arm, told Axios his mission is to maintain the GOP's House majority.
"My focus is beating Democrats — I'm not involved in the primaries, except when we have incumbents in primaries; you know, we support our incumbents," Hudson said. "But I'm focused on the general election and picking up seats."
Hudson added he hasn't talked with members who are attacking their colleagues "in an official way," but added, "obviously people are talking about it."
Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, chair of the House Republican Conference, told reporters, according to Axios: "I support our Republican incumbents and my position that I've taken in leadership ... [is] we strongly support them."
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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