Republicans Float New Conspiracy Theory Amid McCarthy Retirement

Amid Representative Kevin McCarthy's retirement announcement, Republicans are floating a new conspiracy theory on Wednesday involving Representative Matt Rosendale.

McCarthy, a California Republican, was House speaker from January until early October when the GOP led his ouster. Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson took over as speaker in late October. On Wednesday, McCarthy announced, in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, that he will leave the House by the end of the year. He said he hopes to "serve America in new ways," by "lending my experience to support the next generation of leaders." McCarthy has served in the House for 17 years.

In response to McCarthy's retirement, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), a national organization dedicated to taking back the Republican Senate Majority, released a statement seen on X, formerly Twitter, taking aim at Rosendale, a Montana Republican, alleging him of being a "plant from the Democrats."

"A lot of people are starting to wonder if Matt Rosendale is a plant from the Democrats. He is benefiting from millions of dollars in television ads from a Chuck Shumer-aligned super PAC and has been a great ally to Hakeem Jefferies and Nancy Pelosi in their efforts to take back the House," NRSC communications director, Mike Berg said in a statement.

Newsweek has reached out to the NRSC and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell via email for comment.

Responding to the NRSC's statement, Rosendale said in a statement to Newsweek via text, "Mitch McConnell and the D.C. Cartel have sold the American people out for decades. Montanans sent me to Congress to restore regular order and return power to the people. Clearly, Mitch McConnell and the NRSC are terrified of having a true conservative who would upend business as usual in the United States Senate.

"If Mitch McConnell and the NRSC truly wanted to be in the majority, they would be dedicating their resources to exposing Jon Tester instead of attacking the strongest conservative in the state of Montana."

Rosendale was one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy as speaker in October.

In addition, amid a potential government shutdown in September, the Montana congressman said in a post on X he would not support a continuing resolution (CR), adding that it would be a continuation of "Nancy Pelosi's budget and Joe Biden's policies."

"For months, I have made it very clear that I will not be supporting a CR. And this week is no different," formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday night. "A CR is a continuation of Nancy Pelosi's budget and Joe Biden's policies," Rosendale wrote on X.

In November, Rosendale was also one of the 93 members in the Republican-controlled lower legislative chamber to vote against Johnson's continuing resolution, preventing a government shutdown.

Meanwhile, after McCarthy is retired, there will be a special election held for McCarthy's seat. It is unclear who will run, but McCarthy does have some challengers, including MAGA Republican David Giglio, who lost a congressional bid in 2022.

In a statement following McCarthy's announcement, Giglio wrote: "While Kevin McCarthy might be planning to leave Congress in body, he is still looking to wield power and influence behind the scenes through a handpicked successor.

"I understand that the 20th District is MAGA country, and I plan to fight alongside a newly re-elected President Donald Trump to drain the Washington swamp, crush the uniparty, and ensure the House implements every single item of his Agenda 47."

Democrat John Burrows is also running in the district and is campaigning on his advocacy for "families who have been overlooked" by McCarthy.