Kevin McCarthy begins canvassing for speakership votes

While the votes of the Midterm election from Tuesday night are still being counted, the Grand Old Party (GOP) is projected to narrowly win the majority of the house. The Republicans have currently gained six seats, bringing their total to 207 while the Democrats have lost eight seats and are standing at 184, at the time of writing.To gain the majority, a party needs to reach the target of 218 seats which remain up for grabs.In a letter sent to his caucus, McCarthy said: ‘I trust you know that earning the majority is only the beginning.’Now, we will be measured by what we do with our majority. Now the real work begins.’That is why I am running to serve as Speaker of the People’s House and humbly ask for your support.’ Kevin McCarthy announced his bid for speakership on Wednesday (Image: Getty) Nancy Pelosi is the current Speaker of the House (Image: Getty)While the Republicans have not made the gains they hoped to see in the expected ‘red wave’, it is thought they will take the House.So far, Mr McCarthy will run unopposed for Speaker of the House and will need 218 votes in the full House vote in January.GOP Representative Bob Good criticised McCarthy saying on Wednesday: ‘Kevin McCarthy has not done anything to earn my vote for speaker.’Representative Good is a House Freedom Caucus board member and told Axios: ‘I believe there’s a number of members who feel as I do and who will support a challenge to him as the speaker when we convene next week.’I don’t think he has the votes.’READ MORE: Russian Army at risk of disintegration after Ukraine war Joe Biden held a phone call with McCarthy on Wednesday (Image: Getty) The House is still too close to call as votes are still being counted (Image: Getty)A source close to the House Freedom Caucus told CNN that there are around 24 current and new members prepared to vote against McCarthy if he refuses to offer them concessions.The source added that the group are in talks about announcing a challenger to face McCarthy to force the GOP leader to give them more influence in the operations of the House.However, when the California Republican was asked if he had enough votes to take the speakership, he boldly replied: ‘Yes.’On Wednesday, it was reported by those familiar with the situation that McCarthy spoke to his trusted advisers in a phone call and a number of allies were seen going in and out of his office as they drew up a plan for his election.DON’T MISS: Man ‘fixated’ with Buckingham Palace avoids jail (REVEAL)Sainsbury’s latest to bring in 50p charge in petrol stations (INSIGHT)Spain demands Brussels changes post-Brexit rules for UK holidaymakers (REVEAL) Donald Trump has been blamed for the lack of a ‘red wave’ (Image: Getty)McCarthy appointed members to make up his whip team in order to get him the necessary 218 votes, and GOP lawmakers on the phone call vowed to ‘work hard to get him elected’.The GOP Leader spoke with President Biden in a phone call on Wednesday of which no details have been given other than McCarthy said it was ‘good’.With NBC stating that results for the House are still too close to call, it appears Mr McCarthy may be getting ahead of himself in his bid for speakership.