House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is battling a handful of disgruntled conservatives who want someone else to govern their tiny House majority in 2023, and his refusal to cut a deal with the group is putting his quest for the speaker’s gavel in jeopardy.
Five Republicans say they’ll refuse to vote for Mr. McCarthy — a number that’s just big enough to sink his election on Jan. 3, when both Democrats and Republicans vote for the speaker.
The “fed-up five” are backed by the Freedom Caucus, which wants significant changes in the House rules to restore more power to rank-and-file lawmakers and put an end to runaway government spending.