Christian Smith
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said in an interview published Wednesday that he is backing a primary challenger to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) — marking the latest development in their high-profile rivalry.
McCarthy said Politician he is he is supporting former naval aviator Aaron Dimmock in the primary. In the interview, the former president also intensified his criticism of his longtime rival, who is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
“Gaetz is the Hunter Biden of the Republican Party,” McCarthy said. “He has an opponent who is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, trained in Pensacola, went to the Naval Academy and flew jets to defend us while Gaetz was kicked out of high school, bought cocaine and paid minors for sex.”
McCarthy was apparently referring to an ongoing investigation on allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct with minors and illegal drug use. The Department of Justice refused to prosecute Gaetz about sex trafficking allegations last year.
Gaetz responded to McCarthy’s support for Dimmock with a post on the social platform ”.
“Who thinks Kev and DEI Dimmock should campaign together in Northwest Florida? I sure do!” Gaetz wrote in the post.
In a statement to The Hill, Gaetz said he would not accept “behavioral advice” from McCarthy, pointing to unsubstantiated rumors that the former president had an affair with another House member.
Dimmock archived to run as a Republican in Gaetz’s district last month for the Aug. 20 primary, making him the only challenger to the incumbent. Gaetz’s campaign responded quickly resurfacing apparent social media posts by Dimmock and labeling him as a “DEI enthusiast.”
A campaign committee, Friends of Matt Gaetz, launched a website which labels Dimmock as “woke” and a supporter of diversity initiatives. It also includes links to donate to Gaetz’s campaign.
McCarthy and Gaetz were stuck in a rivalry for months, especially after Gaetz led the effort to oust McCarthy from office last fall. The California Republican has repeatedly said the ethics investigation was One of the reasons Gaetz decided to lead the effort to remove him last fall.
Gaetz kept that his effort to oust McCarthy was not personal.
The Hill has reached out to Dimmock’s campaign for comment.
