McCarthy Floats Return as Divided G.O.P. Prepares to Choose a Speaker

Gift Article.

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy floated the possibility on Monday that he might be open to reclaiming the post from which he was ousted less than a week ago, even as two other Republicans vied to replace him in a contest that has highlighted the party’s deep divisions.

With the House rudderless and paralyzed following Mr. McCarthy’s removal last week, the California Republican worked to project normalcy and leadership in the face of the war unfolding in Israel, after an invasion by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that has led to hundreds of deaths and the capture of scores of civilian Israeli hostages. He summoned reporters to the Capitol to lay out a plan to defend Israel and rescue American captives.