In ousting McCarthy, GOP demotes key fundraiser and campaign cheerleader before 2024
By shunting Kevin McCarthy, eight GOP lawmakers led by Matt Gaetz demoted one of the party's most dogged fundraisers just as Republicans work to protect their majority House Republicans are rudderless in Washington as they search for a new leader -- leaving one half of Congress in the lurch and freezing key legislative Business -- but the political ripple effects of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's ouster this week could stretch far beyond Capitol Hill. By shunting McCarthy, eight GOP lawmakers led by hard-liner Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida demoted one of the party's most dogged fundraisers just as Republicans are preparing to protect their five-seat majority next year -- including several swing-seat incumbents in places like California and New York, where McCarthy was credited by Republicans with beefing up donations and recruitment. "We won in places no one thought we could win," McCarthy said on Tuesday night, in remarks to reporters shortly after losing his s...