Arizona Republican announces run for House speaker

ARIZONA (CNN, KYMA/KECY) - Congressman Andy Biggs says he will be a candidate for the House speakership on January 3rd.

The hard-right Arizona Republican lost a bid last month for his conference’s nomination to be the next speaker.

His candidacy in January will only make it harder for house Republican leader Kevin McCarthy to claim the speaker’s gavel on the first ballot.

To become speaker, a candidate needs 218 votes on the house floor.

With Biggs’ candidacy, McCarthy detractors can now vote for an alternative to run the new house, which will have 222 Republican seats.

If McCarthy can’t win the necessary 218 votes on the first ballot, it will go to multiple ballots until someone wins 218 votes.

That's something that hasn’t happened in about a century.

Biggs tweeted he's voting to break the establishment and says McCarthy was created by, elevated by and maintained by the establishment.