safety
Kevin McCarthy claims with a straight face that the GOP walks away from "bad candidates"
By Molly Sprayregen at LGBTQ Nation
· July 7, 2026
· 2 min read
Amid calls for Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the race after a sexual assault allegation, one Republican's take on the matter has sent social media into a frenzy. During an appearance on Fox News, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) declared, "The one thing I
Key takeaway But Gaetz won a fifth term in 2024 before choosing to resign after the president nominated him for Attorney General, a role from which he later withdrew his own candidacy.
Why this matters
Kevin McCarthy's claim that the GOP walks away from "bad candidates" is being met with skepticism, particularly in the context of the party's history with figures like Donald Trump and Matt Gaetz. The fact that Trump has faced multiple sexual assault allegations and has been connected to Jeffrey Epstein, yet still maintains significant support within the party, raises questions about the GOP's commitment to holding its members accountable. Furthermore, Gaetz's example does not hold up to scrutiny, as he won a fifth term in 2024 before resigning. This disconnect between McCarthy's words and the party's actions suggests that the GOP's stance on problematic candidates may be more nuanced, and potentially influenced by political expediency. As the national conversation around accountability and candidate vetting continues, the GOP's approach to these issues will likely face increased scrutiny, particularly in relation to the party's treatment of figures like Trump and Gaetz.
About this story
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Category: safety ·
Published: July 7, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Amid calls for Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the race after a sexual assault allegation, one Republican's take on the matter has sent social media into a frenzy. During an appearance on Fox News, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) declared, "The one thing I
When was this published? This article was first published on July 7, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Molly Sprayregen at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .