Matt Gaetz becomes the latest Kevin McCarthy defector to draw a primary challenger: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill.

In today’s edition, national political reporter Bridget Bowman notes how four House Republicans who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker are now facing primary challenges. Plus, senior political editor Mark Murray breaks down how voters have a rosier view of Donald Trump's presidency than Joe Biden's.

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Gaetz becomes latest McCarthy defector to draw a primary challenger

By Bridget Bowman

The decision nearly seven months ago to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker has already had lasting implications on Capitol Hill. Now that move is making its way to the campaign trail, looming over several primaries that could help shape the GOP’s future in the House.

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz became the latest House Republican who voted to remove McCarthy to draw a primary challenger. Aaron Dimmock, a former Navy aviator, according to the Pensacola News Journal, filed to run against Gaetz on Friday, just ahead of the deadline to enter the race.

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Gaetz, McCarthy’s chief agitator, wasted little time attempting to tie Dimmock to the California Republican, posting on X that McCarthy “would be getting a puppet of his to run.”

Gaetz also said in a statement to NBC News: “I’m excited to welcome Missouri-based DEI instructor Aaron Dimmock to the campaign. Aaron is not in Kansas City anymore. This is Trump Country. Our pronouns are USA and MAGA.”

Dimmock did not respond to a request for comment. Although he put a Florida address on his