(Washington Insider Magazine) -Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District lost a hero this week when Virginia Congressman Donald McEachin passed away, losing his battle with colorectal cancer which he started battling in 2013.
Congressman McEachin was 61 years old and the third African American to represent Virginia in the House of Representatives.
In a statement released on Monday, McEachin’s chief of staff said they are devastated as they watched him battle his colorectal cancer for nearly nine years while serving his home state of Virginia.
Congressman McEachin continued to deal with the debilitating effects of his cancer, which he ultimately succumbed to earlier this week.
What Does Virginia Congressman Donald McEachin’s Death Mean to Congress?
McEachin’s untimely death means that Congress will start with a vacant seat until a special election is held to replace the Congressman.
This news doesn’t give House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) any spare breathing room as he continues to vie for Speaker of the House.
McCarthy met with key staff members on Tuesday– with several detractors of the right-wing – to secure the votes he needs to become Speaker.
However, McCarthy is facing some opposition from the Freedom Caucus–a pro-Trump group that vows to deny McCarthy the necessary votes and prevent him from becoming Speaker.
Other representatives decided to weigh in as well.
Rep. Bob Good (R-Virginia) told reporters that he is a firm no on voting for McCarthy after leaving some wiggle room with reporters last week about his upcoming decision.
Good said directly that he would be voting for an alternative candidate, not McCarthy, and later specified he would be voting for Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ).
Representatives Ralph Norman (R-NC) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) also added that they would not be voting for McCarthy, who is currently the House Minority Leader and has served as Majority Leader under John Boehner and Paul Ryan.
But McCarthy is a formidable opponent. He vowed not to drop out of his quest for Speaker even if the first vote fails.
He promised a floor fight despite the process potentially going into multiple ballots and is determined to win the battle for Speaker of the House.
