McCarthy mows down GOP detractors ahead of speaker bid — but the job isn’t done

HENNIKER, N.H. — Kevin McCarthy’s allies and like-minded groups have neutralized his potential detractors in GOP primaries across the country, wiping out dissenters who might derail his speakership bid next year and prove to be major headaches in Congress. Their final targets are on the ballot here Tuesday. 

And some skeptics of the California Republican aren’t going quietly.

Outside spending in New Hampshire’s Republican House primaries on behalf of Matt Mowers, a former aide to Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) and Donald Trump, and Keene Mayor George Hansel, has enraged the other GOP contenders. As Mowers and Hansel get heavy support from outside PACs who feel they will be more formidable in the general election, conservative rivals are furious over what they allege is a leadership-backed campaign to help craft a GOP takeover and land McCarthy in the top role next year.

“This is coming from McCarthy,” charged Bob Burns, who is challenging Hansel in the Republican primary to take on Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster. (Donors to the group spending against Burns won’t be disclosed for another week at least, and there are no public links to the minority leader.)