‘It’s Not a Threat. It’s Being on the Damn Team.’

Rep. Don Bacon (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Moderate GOP Rep. Don Bacon has a warning for the handful of Republicans threatening to derail House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s speakership bid: Vote for McCarthy, or he’ll shore up votes from moderate Democrats to elect a centrist instead. 

But at least one member of the House Freedom Caucus is already calling what he thinks is Bacon’s bluff. “That’s a deliberate, orchestrated disinformation campaign. I don’t think there’s any truth and veracity to that whatsoever,” Rep. Bob Good, one of a handful of potential no-votes on McCarthy, told The Dispatch Wednesday. “I’d like to know what Republicans will vote with what Democrats first.”

The comments show just how fractious the House GOP conference is heading into the January 3 speakership vote.

Bacon, co-chair of the centrist GOP Main Street Caucus and member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, says conversations are underway with “several” members of the New Democrat Coalition and the Problem Solvers Caucus who have “discussed a willingness to work together on this” should the speakership vote go multiple rounds.

Join to continue reading
Get started with a free account or join as a member for unlimited access to all of The Dispatch. Continue ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SIGN IN