MAGA Republican launches primary challenge to McCarthy

A self-proclaimed MAGA Republican plans to run against Kevin McCarthy for his House seat, a primary challenge that represents the latest fallout from his speakership ouster.

And David Giglio is praising the eight Republicans who voted to remove the former speaker, as the GOP challenger prepares to launch his run for California’s 20th District Monday morning.

“Kevin McCarthy was removed as Speaker by 8 courageous members of his own party for failing to keep his promises and capitulating to Joe Biden and the radical Democrats,” Giglio said in his press release, first obtained by POLITICO. “Kevin McCarthy must be defeated.”

McCarthy was booted from the speakership by those eight, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), nearly a month ago — a move that was widely criticized within the House GOP. That spiraled into a chaotic 22 days without a speaker, until Mike Johnson won the gavel last week, with a Nov. 17 shutdown deadline on the immediate horizon.

McCarthy, a Bakersfield native, has previously cruised to victory in his district. He’s a prolific fundraiser and would be difficult to beat, if he chooses to run for reelection, even after being stripped of the gavel. He has vowed that he plans to run again after POLITICO previously reported he was considering early retirement, but that hasn’t tamped down speculation about whether he stays through the rest of his term and beyond.

Giglio, who has a business selling sports cards and memorabilia online, according to his campaign website, previously ran for California’s 13th district, but he ultimately lost to Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.). That district is more of a battleground than McCarthy’s, which former President Donald Trump won by 25 points in 2020.

McCarthy does not currently have any GOP challengers who have reported raising money with the Federal Election Commission, but more could join Giglio. California has a jungle-primary system, which means the top-two vote getters advance to the general election, regardless of party.

Ally Mutnick contributed.