Boehner says he's ‘all in’ for speaker in next Congress
June 24th, 2014
02:37 PM ET
9 years ago

Boehner says he's ‘all in’ for speaker in next Congress

Washington (CNN) – House Speaker John Boehner had a message to all those wondering if he's planning to run for his leadership post after the midterm elections: "I'm all in."

"I told my colleagues two weeks ago I was all in. When I'm all in, I'm all in," Boehner told reporters on Tuesday after his weekly meeting with House Republicans.

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To hammer home that point, the Boehner emphasized to his members his commitment as top fundraiser for House GOP candidates. His continued efforts to pull in money from his three different campaign committees signals to his allies, as well as those who might want to challenge him in the fall, that he's not planning to retire.

Over the course of the 2014 election cycle Boehner has raised more than $88 million for House Republican incumbents and challengers, according to a senior House GOP source familiar with the speaker’s political activities.

At the closed-door meeting across from the Capitol, Boehner told GOP lawmakers he's writing a check this week for $1.5 million from his Ohio re-election campaign account to the National Republican Congressional Committee. Over the last two years, Boehner has transferred more than $17 million to the NRCC.

Key races to watch in 2014

Part pep rally, part shake down, Boehner and other top leaders made an aggressive pitch at the weekly breakfast with GOP members that they need make up the fundraising gap between the GOP campaign and its Democratic counterpart, according to multiple Republican sources who attended the meeting. Even though Republicans control the House, which usually translates into a bigger fundraising record each quarter, the NRCC has consistently trailed the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 2014 campaign cycle. As of this month, House Democrats have roughly $45 million to spend on the fall campaign, and House Republicans have about $35 million.

Rep. Greg Walden from Oregon who chairs the House Republican campaign arm, has set a goal of electing a total of 245 House GOP members – which means the party would need to pick up a dozen more seats than it currently holds in the House. The number of competitive House districts is fairly small – about 50 seats out of 435 – so Walden’s goal is ambitious, but top leaders backed it at the Tuesday meeting, and warned it wouldn't happen unless members stepped up and opened their wallets.

Boehner plans to hit the road in his campaign bus during the month-long congressional recess in August, traveling 6,000 miles to 14 states on behalf of Republican candidates. To date, Boehner has headlined more than 150 events and cut more than $1.4 million in checks directly to GOP candidates, the senior aide told CNN.

Top House GOP leaders and committee chairs are expected to help raise big money for GOP incumbents and challengers.

One of the reasons the incoming House Majority Leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy from California, easily won last week's leadership election to fill Rep. Eric Cantor's number two slot, which he is leaving after his primary loss in Virginia, was his close relationships with scores of members he helped elect. McCarthy recruited and raised money for most of the House Republicans elected in the last two elections. On Wednesday, McCarthy pledged $1.5 million to the House campaign GOP committee.

Two House Republicans who may be eyeing leadership spots in the next Congress also made significant pledges at Wednesday's meeting. House GOP budget chair Paul Ryan from Wisconsin announced he would give $1 million, and so did Rep. Jeb Hensarling from Texas.

Rep. Billy Long from Missouri, who worked as a professional auctioneer before he was elected, stood up and began calling out amounts, taking pledges from other House Republicans to give to the Republican midterm campaign effort. A group of Ohio Republicans, led by Boehner ally Pat Tibieri, added a total of $3 million to the NRCC's coffers.

Complete coverage of the 2014 midterm elections

Related:
Conservatives float alternative to Boehner


Filed under: 2014 • Fundraising • House Republicans • John Boehner • NRCC
soundoff (25 Responses)
  1. salty dog

    I'll drink to that. More scotch and tears? Go away orange man!

    June 24, 2014 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |
  2. salty dog

    Puppet masters let you run again?

    June 24, 2014 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |
  3. Rudy NYC

    I haven't heard Republicans use the J-Word, jobs, too much lately. What is their plan to create some? Democrats want to invest in infrastructure. Republicans seem to only want to invest in another war, less regulations, and more tax cuts.

    June 24, 2014 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |
  4. Lynda/Minnesota

    Well, OK. A lot of money (a very lot of money) is being brandied around, begging the question ... is this a nominated position or a bought and paid for position he's "all in" for. You know. That Speaker of the House thingy he holds dear to his stark cold heart.

    June 24, 2014 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |
  5. Lily

    In to do what? What has he accomplished so far that he can be allowed to continue and accomplish more? I hear the rightwingers asking: What has Hillary accomplished as Secretary of State? Before this question is answered, I want to know what Boehner as the Speaker of the House who campaigned for creating jobs, unite people together which includes working closely with the President fulfilled all these. Making Boehner the Speaker for another more time, is playing with the right thinking of all Americans. No one can take this anymore. For the sake of the whole nation, he must be kicked out.

    June 24, 2014 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |
  6. Sniffit

    "I haven't heard Republicans use the J-Word, jobs, too much lately. What is their plan to create some? "

    Their plan: do absolutely nothing except interfere with the economy's recovery until they can win an election, gain the WH and at least on half of Congress, and ONLY THEN bother to start doing something about it.

    It's all about who they think will be able to get the credit.

    June 24, 2014 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |
  7. Chris-E...al

    He cant help if he has a Orange tint man . Thats not very nice whats wrong with Orange man ?

    June 24, 2014 03:29 pm at 3:29 pm |
  8. Dominican mama 4 Obama

    Wake Up!
    And now that one of the guys behind Benghazi has been caught, nary a peep.
    -----------------------------------------------------
    I noticed that too Wake Up!
    Not a PEEP. Nothing.
    I must say this President sure knows how to shut these yapping dogs down doesn't he?
    What was it that he said? Loosely translated "You screw withe us, and we're coming after you".
    He's been VERY EFFECTIVE in that regard hasn't he? TWICE. Ole bin laden, and now the Benghazi turd.
    Thank you Mr. President.

    June 24, 2014 03:30 pm at 3:30 pm |
  9. ThinkAgain: If you don't like Congress, get rid of the repub/tea bag majority

    To everyone posting and reading here who sees Boehner for the malignant tumor on America that he is, be sure to get out and VOTE on November 4, 2014 – and encourage everyone you know to do the same.

    Our nation can't afford the likes of Boehner any longer!

    June 24, 2014 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |
  10. Sniffit

    Heh...hehehe....Boehner...."all in"...hehehehehehe.....

    June 24, 2014 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |
  11. Sniffit

    "He cant help if he has a Orange tint man . Thats not very nice whats wrong with Orange man ?"

    What's wrong: the policies he supports and he means he uses to support them.

    June 24, 2014 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |
  12. O'drama ya Mama

    He was about to retire until Cantor lost. Now he has to stay as speaker since nearly the entire GOP caucus are inexperienced.

    June 24, 2014 03:37 pm at 3:37 pm |
  13. Sniffit

    ""She'd probably get shot at the state line," 2nd Congressional District (Arkansas) party chairman Johnny Rhoda told U.S. News."

    This is what the GOP/Teatrolls consider to be appropriate political discourse.

    June 24, 2014 03:38 pm at 3:38 pm |
  14. ThinkAgain: If you don't like Congress, get rid of the repub/tea bag majority

    Why aren't more repubs calling for Boehner to leave Congress? He's one of those "career politicians" you hate so much – right?

    June 24, 2014 03:41 pm at 3:41 pm |
  15. Laverne

    There was no one happier that Eric Cantor was defeated than John Boehner! This guy probably cried for days and proclaimed "There is a God"!!!

    June 24, 2014 03:48 pm at 3:48 pm |
  16. Dutch/Bad Newz, VA - Take Back the House

    "I told my colleagues two weeks ago I was all in. When I'm all in, I'm all in,"
    -----------------------------------
    If accomplishing nothing is your idea of governing, you can go back to Ohio and chug a bottle of scotch. All in! You sound like a drunk. You're the most ineffective Speaker I've witnessed in my lifetime.

    June 24, 2014 03:50 pm at 3:50 pm |
  17. Rudy NYC

    Sniffit

    "I haven't heard Republicans use the J-Word, jobs, too much lately. What is their plan to create some? "

    Their plan: do absolutely nothing except interfere with the economy's recovery until they can win an election, gain the WH and at least on half of Congress, and ONLY THEN bother to start doing something about it.

    It's all about who they think will be able to get the credit.
    ------------------------------–
    Sorry, pal, but I must strongly disagree with you. It's not about job creation with the Republicans. Despite the altruistic rhetoric, it has never been about job creation, the middle class, or anything except cutting taxes for the wealthy. Case in point, the decades long, Republican war against the middle class, unions, the poor, etc. It doesn't work both ways.

    June 24, 2014 03:51 pm at 3:51 pm |
  18. Buster

    oehner is a political bum!!

    June 24, 2014 03:55 pm at 3:55 pm |
  19. Lynda/Minnesota

    @ Dominican mama: "and talk some smack with guys about things that we can only truly change if we get up from our computers or go to a different forum."

    Oh, you mean (as with Sniffit) we've been here at CNN for what seems like forever? Yes, I do agree. But, what other forums are we to go to? I do get my shopping, my house cleaning, my messaging, and my treadmill time completed in between comments though. There is that.

    @ Rudy NYC

    Today seems to be my day for personal comments: How have you been lately (hopefully there's been an improvement with your back pain)?

    June 24, 2014 03:59 pm at 3:59 pm |
  20. smith

    If the GOP was smart they would get Boehner to run in 2016 for potus. House Speaker, military background, mono-tone, and always has a stern look in his face. He`s perfect for the GOP and he`s the best chance to turn Ohio red.

    June 24, 2014 04:03 pm at 4:03 pm |
  21. Wake Up People! Many Rivers to cross.....

    Dominican mama 4 Obama says:
    June 24, 2014 03:30 pm at 3:30 pm
    Wake Up!
    And now that one of the guys behind Benghazi has been caught, nary a peep.
    —————————————————————————————————————————————————————
    I noticed that too Wake Up!
    Not a PEEP. Nothing.
    I must say this President sure knows how to shut these yapping dogs down doesn’t he?
    What was it that he said? Loosely translated “You screw withe us, and we’re coming after you”.
    He’s been VERY EFFECTIVE in that regard hasn’t he? TWICE. Ole bin laden, and now the Benghazi turd.
    Thank you Mr. President.

    That he has DM, yet the MSM and their owners the GOP refuse to give him any credit for anything.

    June 24, 2014 04:07 pm at 4:07 pm |
  22. Hillary Izexi

    To represent the wants, needs, and interests of US Citizens or to pander for criminal immigrant votes...

    June 24, 2014 04:08 pm at 4:08 pm |
  23. Gunderson

    Um, Sorry,
    It looks like you freeloaders will have to book your own life, again. You want something? You will have to provide it yourself. The old Liberal Mantra, WITH YOUR MONEY AND MY BRAINS, WE WILL GO PLACES, is dead. Liberal's have no brains. You have any money? Old Gunderson thought so. 1930's dead ahead.

    June 24, 2014 04:12 pm at 4:12 pm |
  24. S.B. Stein

    Will Boehner get a pair and confront the teapublicans and tell them no? I doubt that he can maintain the speakership without them. So, he is going to bow to their inflexible desires and irrational ideals.

    June 24, 2014 04:14 pm at 4:14 pm |
  25. Rick McDaniel

    Boehner should step down. He really is NOT the man for the job.

    June 24, 2014 04:14 pm at 4:14 pm |