‘The Choice Is Kevin McCarthy or Chaos’: Gingrich’s Message to Republicans Who Oppose McCarthy for Speaker

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich delivers a speech on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 20, 2016. John Moore/Getty Images

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Jan. 2 criticized Republicans opposed Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) bid to command the speaker’s gravel, saying their refusal to back the GOP leader risks causing “chaos” within the party and Congress.

“I don’t understand what they’re doing. They’re not voting against Kevin McCarthy, they’re voting against over 215 members of their own conference,” Gingrich told Fox News.