Biggs, the former Arizona state Senate president, is the former head of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, which was arguably Trump’s most supportive faction in the chamber. || Gage Skidmore/Flckr
By Ronald J. Hansen || Arizona Republic
Rep. Andy Biggs lost his long-shot bid to be the speaker of the House of Representatives when the next Congress convenes in Washington, in a move he framed as “changing the paradigm and the status quo.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., beat Biggs, R-Ariz., 188-31 in an internal House GOP vote, according to CNN, citing unnamed sources.
The outcome was never really in doubt, but Biggs’ challenge signals that McCarthy’s hold on the GOP is tenuous after the party posted only minor gains in the midterm elections rather than the “red wave” many expected.
The move is sure to further raise the profile of Biggs, who may be best known nationally for his involvement in Washington and in Arizona in the effort led by former President Donald Trump to set aside the certified results of the 2020 election that culminated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Biggs, the former Arizona state Senate president, is the former head of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, which was arguably Trump’s most supportive faction in the chamber.
