Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s October began with his historic ouster from the House speakership.
It’s ending with a challenge from a self-proclaimed Donald Trump acolyte who wants to boot the veteran lawmaker from Congress.
Sports trading card merchant David Giglio announced his campaign for the GOP nomination in California’s 20th District Monday by lauding the eight Republicans who ripped the gavel from McCarthy Oct. 3.
“After years of being sold out to special interests, the people of the Central Valley deserve an America First Republican fighting for them in Washington and working alongside President Donald Trump to WAGE WAR against the corrupt uniparty!” Giglio said in a statement.
The Connecticut-born Giglio is the owner of CaliCards & More in Clovis, a suburb of Fresno about 120 miles north of McCarthy’s longtime home of Bakersfield, according to his campaign biography.
4 California Republican and sports cards merchant David Giglio announced his primary challenge to Kevin McCarthy on Monday. YouTube/America First Live w/David A. Giglio
4 Kevin McCarthy was first elected to Congress in 2006 and steadily rose to become the No. 1 House Republican. AP
McCarthy (R-Calif.), 58, has represented the ruby-red region since 2007, 16 years in which he steadily climbed the ladder of House GOP leadership before becoming speaker in January.
“Kevin McCarthy was removed as Speaker by 8 courageous members of his party for failing to keep to his promises and capitulating to Joe Biden and the radical Democrats. Kevin McCarthy must be defeated,” Giglio’s announcement continued.
McCarthy was deposed when the handful of Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) voted with 208 Democrats to give him the boot.
4 Matt Gaetz spearheaded the effort to take down Kevin McCarthy as speaker, but leaned on Democrats to pull it off. Getty Images
Gaetz and company claimed to have been vexed by McCarthy’s decision to bring forward a stopgap measure to avert a partial government shutdown on Sept. 30. However, McCarthy has insisted personal animosity from Gaetz played a role.
The Californian was the first House speaker in US history to be formally toppled via a motion to vacate the chair, which left the lower chamber paralyzed for 22 days before a new leader was chosen.
Ultimately Mike Johnson of Louisiana was voted speaker Oct. 25 — after three other Republican speaker-designees withdrew their nominations.
4 Kevin McCarthy has publicly insisted he plans to vie for reelection to Congress in 2024. Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock
Shortly after his fall, McCarthy declared his intention to remain in Congress and vie for re-election, despite not seeking to reclaim the gavel.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative that we replace career politicians and elect America First Republicans who will secure the southern border, stop the weaponization of government, drain the corrupt swamp, and annihilate permanent Washington,” Giglio said Monday.
McCarthy’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The former speaker is widely regarded as a fundraising juggernaut for House Republican candidates.
Given that fundraising prowess as well as McCarthy’s widespread name recognition, Giglio will likely face an uphill battle to take McCarthy down.
McCarthy draws MAGA primary challenger for his California seat
