McCarthy not backing down from speaker bid after heated meeting with GOP: 'I'm not going anywhere'
Rep. Kevin McCarthy told reporters after a contentious private meeting with the GOP Conference that he still intends to become speaker
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}THE VOTE FOR HOUSE SPEAKER: LIVE UPDATES
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.
MCCARTHY SHORT OF VOTES AS HOUSE SPEAKER CONTEST ENTERS FINAL HOURS
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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."
MCCARTHY’S GOP FOES DIG IN BEFORE HOUSE SPEAKER VOTE: ‘NO PRINCIPLES,’ ‘PART OF THE PROBLEM’
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.