Tom Kean Jr. will oppose Matt Gaetz’s motion “declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant” when it heads to the floor on Tuesday evening.
“In the first 9 months, this House Republican majority has kept its commitment to America,” Kean, a freshman representing NJ-07, tweeted on Monday. “We’ve mandated that government spend less, that the money we do spend reflects the American taxpayer’s priorities, and we’ve ensured our country is stronger at home and around the globe. I am grateful for the leadership @SpeakerMcCarthy brings every day to keeping that commitment.”
A source close to the congressman confirmed for me that nothing had changed as of Tuesday.
Kean and McCarthy are close allies. The future speaker actively supported Kean during his 2022 campaign, and he returned to the Garden State last month to raise money for the New Jerseyans.
The final motion vote was expected to follow a leadership-backed attempt to table the motion. McCarthy’s prospects looked bleak as of Tuesday afternoon, however, after word leaked out that Democrat leaders were actively whipping their caucus to support the motion to oust the top Republican.
