BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) 鈥� House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy鈥檚 don鈥檛 stop at the Washington Beltway.
In his Central California hometown of Bakersfield 鈥� where oil derricks blanket hillsides and country music fans flock to Buck Owens鈥� Crystal Palace hall 鈥� some voters are asking if what has become to succeed Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came at the expense of the twin engines of the local economy 鈥� oil production and agriculture.
hails from a conservative, inland region of California far from the liberal strongholds of San Francisco and Los Angeles that doesn鈥檛 figure in the California Dream myth of fast fame and easy living. Farming and oil pumping shape the economy 鈥� on a recent rainy morning in Bakersfield, fields of oil tanks, warehouses and the leaping flames from a refinery's gas flare stood out against a coal-colored sky.
Outside Ethel鈥檚 Old Corral caf茅 in the city鈥檚 Oildale neighborhood, oil field worker Zane Denio said he wasn鈥檛 following as he attempts to take Pelosi鈥檚 gavel. For a third consecutive day Thursday, McCarthy failed to win enough Republican votes to claim the job, leaving his future prospects uncertain.
The registered Republican has voted for McCarthy in the past, but next time? That 鈥渄epends on who is running against him,鈥� Denio said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 just another politician. That鈥檚 the bottom line.鈥�
Denio said he cares about the oil industry and its good-paying jobs, but he sees them under constant attack from and the Democratic-dominated Legislature pushing the state toward a green energy future.
Wearing a broad-brimmed cowboy hat, boots and sunglasses as the sun broke through a stormy sky, Denio questioned why McCarthy hasn鈥檛 been more outspoken in defense of the industry. The availability of water in a drought-parched state also remains a constant challenge for agriculture, another foundation block in the regional economy.
鈥淗e could do more for the folks living in Kern County,鈥� north of Los Angeles where Bakersfield is the county seat. McCarthy鈥檚 鈥渟alary comes from these fields,鈥� Denio said, waving his hand toward nearby hillsides covered with oil rigs.
McCarthy鈥檚 sporadic appearances in the district also are a concern for Andrew Willingham, a manager at the bustling Pyrenees Caf茅 in downtown Bakersfield, which is popular with oil field workers and dependent on their patronage.
McCarthy 鈥渄efinitely spends a lot more time in Washington than he does here,鈥� said Willingham, a registered independent who calls McCarthy 鈥渁 good person鈥� who has left generous tips at the caf茅.
But he worries the state is losing oil workers to Oklahoma and Texas and wants McCarthy to be more vocal in support of those jobs. While he would like to see McCarthy preside over the House 鈥渉e might be able to focus more energy on Kern County is he wasn鈥檛 speaker,鈥� Willingham said.
McCarthy has said the U.S. should boost domestic production to help keep pump prices in check.
While the region retains a Republican tilt 鈥� McCarthy easily won reelection last year 鈥� it has been changing like much of California, gradually becoming more diverse and Democratic. Former President Donald Trump carried Kern County by double digits in the 2020 presidential election.
To Mark Martinez, the political science department chair at California State University, Bakersfield, the turbulent congressional sessions leaving the House without a speaker expose weaknesses in McCarthy鈥檚 leadership that have damaged his reputation.
Republicans took the House in November under McCarthy鈥檚 leadership, but only by a fragile margin after a predicted 鈥渞ed wave鈥� failed to materialize. McCarthy appeared to misread support among GOP House members, leaving him thus far unable to assemble enough votes to gain the speaker鈥檚 post.
McCarthy's trustworthiness has been questioned by colleagues, while public support from Trump has proven unable to move votes in his favor. Meanwhile, Denio and other constituents in his district don鈥檛 see him delivering for the region.
With Bakersfield in a rare, national spotlight, 鈥渢his is really embarrassing,鈥� Martinez said. Whether McCarthy gains the speaker鈥檚 seat or not, 鈥淜evin is going to come out of this looking very, very weak."
That could embolden challengers eager to take his seat. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bat to the head for Kevin,鈥� Martinez said.
Still, local supporters hope McCarthy endures and mounts a comeback; he鈥檚 known for surprising his doubters.
Christy Ferguson, who owns Zingo鈥檚 Caf茅 and an adjacent cocktail bar in Bakersfield, recalled McCarthy鈥檚 assistance helping her gain $25,000 in pandemic financial aid that she invested in her businesses.
Ferguson, a Republican, puzzled over McCarthy鈥檚 political struggles in Washington. 鈥淚 think he should be speaker," she said, predicting even greater future success.
鈥淗e鈥檒l be our next president," she said.
Michael R. Blood, The Associated Press
