Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) argued former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is “bored” now that he no longer serves in Congress, following rumors he supports Mace’s primary challenger.
“The former Speaker needs to get a job, I think that’s the problem,” Mace said in an interview with Politico that aired Friday. “And you know what? He’s a loser. He couldn’t keep his job as Speaker, and he quit the Republican Party.”
The South Carolina lawmaker’s comments come as she and McCarthy maintain a feud following her decision, along with that of seven other GOP members, to oust him from the Speakership in October. McCarthy announced in December that he would leave the House at the end of 2023 to “serve America in new ways.” Mace argued his retirement from Congress put the Republican majority at risk and that he is a “complete loser.”
In the interview, Mace said she prides herself “on being a caucus of one.” She said she doesn’t do anything that anyone else told her to do, particularly when joining the seven other GOP members to remove McCarthy.
She said she told McCarthy in the past that they probably wouldn’t get along and that she would not “be with” him on “every single issue,” adding that she didn’t support his “horrible” debt ceiling bill last May.
Mace added she doesn’t agree with McCarthy’s successor, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) “on everything,” but remarked that he is at least a “trustworthy guy.”
“When he says he’s going to do something, I believe he’s going to do it,” she said, noting that McCarthy could not be trusted.
In a visit to Capitol Hill this week, McCarthy hit back at Mace and said she needs help to “straighten out her life.” The former Speaker highlighted Mace’s staffing troubles and said “no one will stay working for her.” The congresswoman’s former chief of staff filed to run against her in state’s 1st Congressional District last month.
After a whirlwind Speakership vote that left the House without leadership for several weeks, House Republicans remain divided over issues. Mace did not say she regrets her decision to oust McCarthy.
“Look, 75 percent of the country agreed with me on that vote and I’ve got the American people on my side and again, it’s not my fault that there are members of my own party that have tried to sabotage us on different issues,” she said.
She argued that when she agrees with the Republican Party, she will show support, but she is not afraid to speak up when she doesn’t agree.
“I try not to live with regret. Life is tough enough, and I have to live with the decision that I make and the votes that I take,” Mace said.