McCarthy not backing down from speaker bid after heated meeting with GOP: 'I'm not going anywhere'

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Republicans spar over Kevin McCarthy's bid to become House speaker

Senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reports the latest from Capitol Hill. 

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R.-Calif., said he will continue to run for speaker of the new Republican majority as he faces opposition within his party.

"I'm not going anywhere," McCarthy told reporters Tuesday following a contentious private meeting with his party where he delivered a speech. "We did have an intense conference, and it's intense for a purpose."

McCarthy faces opposition from Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and members of the House Freedom Caucus ahead of Tuesday's vote. 

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Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., faces opposition within his party in his bid for speaker. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Boebert muttered "this is bulls---" under her breath during a House GOP Conference meeting Tuesday regarding McCarthy's bid for speakership, her spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

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Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he is "not going anywhere" as his bid for speaker faces opposition  (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

"There's times we're going to have to argue with our own members if they're looking at for only positions for themselves, not for the country," McCarthy said. "Look, I have the record for the longest speech ever on the floor. I don't have a problem getting a record for the most votes for speaker too."

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Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., muttered "this is bulls---" under her breath during a House GOP Conference meeting Tuesday regarding House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's bid for speakership (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The House of Representatives will vote for leadership Tuesday afternoon. There will be a second round of votes if McCarthy does not receive enough support to become speaker. He needs 218 votes to become speaker if all members are present and voting — and House Democratic leaders on Tuesday morning urged all their members to stay on the floor throughout the day to ensure this majority count is necessary. 

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McCarthy laughed prior to the Tuesday meeting when asked if he would support an alternative bid from Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., for speaker. 

Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.