Phyllis Schlafly opposes Kevin McCarthy as next House speaker

Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly came out Tuesday against House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy as the next House speaker. 

Mrs. Schlafly, founder and chairman of Eagle Forum, said the House needs a conservative leader and that Mr. McCarthy, California Republican, showed last week that he does not have the backbone for the job after supporting a stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government running through the middle of December.

“After watching last week’s vote to fund the government, one thing was made clear: a vote for Kevin McCarthy is a vote for more of the same,” Mrs. Schlafly said in a statement. 

“Instead of taking a bold stand when the nation was watching, McCarthy instead voted to fund every one of the President’s priorities, including the Iran nuclear deal, amnesty, and Planned Parenthood,” she said.

House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, recently announced he was leaving Congress at the end of the month, setting off a race to replace him.

Mr. McCarthy announced his bid last week. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Daniel Webster of Florida are also running for the chamber’s top spot.

“The next Speaker must unite Republicans behind conservative principles and then fight for those principles every day,” Mrs. Schlafly said. “Are Jason Chaffetz or Daniel Webster up to the task?”