House Speaker race: Byron Donalds responds after Cori Bush says his 'being Black' makes him 'a prop'
Donalds has received the second most votes among Republicans, behind Kevin McCarthy
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Rep.-elect Byron Donalds has responded to criticism from fellow Rep.-elect Cori Bush, who said his "being Black" makes him a "prop" in the House speaker race.
Taking to Twitter, Donalds, R-Fla., responded to Bush, D-Missouri, by simply saying: "Nobody asked." He also encouraged her to challenge his "policies and the outcomes" rather than the color of his skin.
"Don't be a crab in a barrel" he added.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"FWIW, @ByronDonalds is not a historic candidate for Speaker. He is a prop. Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy," Bush tweeted Wednesday afternoon.
CORI BUSH ATTACKS BYRON DONALDS AS ‘A PROP,’ CLAIMS HE SUPPORTS UPHOLDING ‘WHITE SUPREMACY’
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 04: U.S. Rep.- elect Byron Donalds, R-Fla., speaks to the media during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House outside the U.S. Capitol Building on January 04, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
She also said, "His name being in the mix is not progress—it’s pathetic."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Donalds fired back: "FWIW, nobody asked @CoriBush her opinion on the matter. Before you judge my agenda, let's have a debate over the policies and the outcomes. Until then, don't be a crab in a barrel!"
Bush’s attack on Donalds, an underdog in the Republican race for the House speaker, comes as the congressman-elect received the second most votes among Republican candidates behind front-runner Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The Florida Republican previously endorsed McCarthy and voted for him to gain the speakership twice but changed his approach after it seemed the Californian lacked the support to win.
During a third vote on Tuesday, the first session of the 118th Congress, Donalds changed his vote from McCarthy to Rep.-elect Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, Rep. Scott Perry, R-Penn., Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., confer with each other on the floor of the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Jordan was the recipient of most non-McCarthy votes that day.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
By Wednesday, the defectors changed their strategy again in putting Donalds name into the race for the speakership.
In the fourth, fifth, and sixth votes, Donalds' support remained firm at 20 votes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
McCarthy has vowed to continue speaking with the House Freedom Caucus, which has prevented the legislative body from electing a speaker.
A split photo of Rep.-elect Byron Donalds, R-FL, in the U.S. Capitol Building on June 14, 2022 in Washington, D.C. and Rep.-elect Cori Bush, D-Mo., on the House steps of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, May 19, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The group is asking for concessions and is optimistic that McCarthy will pull through. McCarthy has also expressed optimism that he is winning over members.
"I crawl before I walk, I walk before I run," McCarthy said after the House adjourned Wednesday. "I felt as though we had a very good discussion."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
McCarthy needs most of their support to reach the 218-vote threshold.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Until a speaker is elected, the House cannot hold swearing-in ceremonies, seat members on committees, perform legislative duties, or engage in other business.