The far-right Republicans who banded together to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) are suddenly finding donors shutting their wallets as opponents line up to primary them.
According to CNN's Melanie Zanona and Manu Raju, the so-called "Gaetz 8" are facing "blowback" for driving out McCarthy whose prolific fundraising skills led to his rise to the top spot in the GOP House leadership.
The report states, "The eight House Republicans who took the unprecedented step of removing Kevin McCarthy from the speakership are facing blowback, both in Washington and back home. It’s a sign that even four months after the historic move, emotions are still raw inside a GOP conference that is continuing to reel from McCarthy’s ouster."
While noting that Gaetz seems to be doing fine raising campaign cash — raising $1.8 million in the last quarter, more than double the $770,000 he took in the previous quarter -- the others have not fared nearly as well.
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Add to that are more well-financed opponents lining up to take them on.
"Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Bob Good of Virginia have arguably received the most incoming fire, with both now facing serious primary threats as they gear up for reelection," the report states. "And Rep. Matt Rosendale, who recently jumped into the US Senate race in Montana, is facing headwinds in GOP circles — in part because of his vote to boot McCarthy — as top Republicans fear he will cost them a pivotal seat.
Rosendale, in particular, is struggling, only raising a meager $98,000 last quarter.
McCarthy is reportedly working behind the scenes to take down his antagonists, with CNN reporting."
“If I’m those folks, one of the things that would scare the crap out of me more than anything else is an unhinged McCarthy,” a GOP lawmaker told CNN. “The guy’s the most prolific fundraiser, you’ve got a massive group of donors across the country that are pissed off about what’s happening, and you’ve got these boneheads that have caused it.”
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