Democrat Lays Out Plan for 'Unity' Speaker Who Isn't Kevin McCarthy

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna is looking for a "unity" candidate to take over the reins as speaker of the House.

Khanna, who has represented California's 17th District since 2017 and was recently reelected, is from the same state as GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who wants to be the new speaker. Questions remain whether McCarthy will secure the 218 votes necessary to take the gavel once the 118th Congress convenes early next year.

"I am open to the historic possibility of a unity candidate for speaker who puts the needs of the nation first with an agenda of making us a manufacturing superpower again, a technology leader, and more self-reliant," Khanna told Fox News. "The American people are desperate for us to come together to solve big issues and ensure that we, not China, lead the 21st century.

Khanna added that such a candidate would require "a commitment" regarding shared subpoena power, and someone "more interested in legislating than launching investigations."

"The key is to empower rank-and-file members with more say in the governing affairs of our nation so we can compromise and get things done," he said. "Winston Churchill provided a model of a broad coalition government that achieved great things. This moment in American history cries out for a bold move in such a direction."

Ohio Republican Representative Dave Joyce, the head of the more moderate Republican Governance Group, told Politico that the Republican conference "cannot handcuff itself to a burning building before we gavel in the 118th Congress."

His words followed what was reportedly a contentious closed-door House GOP conference on Tuesday, when representatives including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Kelly advocated for McCarthy.

It was also reported that Republicans who support McCarthy are figuring out how to persuade members who oppose him as speaker, including Representatives Matt Gaetz, Bob Good and Ralph Norman.

Good and Norman expressed angst about Tuesday's meeting after allegedly having less time to speak against McCarthy's speakership than for those who support it.

"We had a conference vote where [McCarthy] won by 85 percent," said first-term Texas Representative August Pfluger, who supports McCarthy. "I'd like to see the members who won by 85 percent in their district. Do they think they should have another vote?"

Representatives Andy Biggs and Matt Rosendale are other Republicans who don't support McCarthy. Biggs, of Arizona, has publicly announced a challenge to McCarthy for the speakership and ties him to the "establishment."

"Kevin McCarthy was created by, elevated by, and maintained by the establishment," Biggs wrote in a tweet.

Other names floated as speaker that would fit Khanna's "unity" perspective include Representative Liz Cheney, who lost her reelection bid in the August primary, and former Republican-turned-Libertarian Justin Amash.

Cheney, one of the most outspoken critics of former President Donald Trump and a lead member of the January 6 Committee, won't be a member of Congress next year. Amash, who voted to impeach Trump when he was a Republican, has been endorsed by lawmakers including Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

Newsweek reached out to Khanna for comment.