The Hill: “Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas) on Tuesday revealed more details about the GOP effort to have him jump parties, saying a handful of Republicans — including a sitting member of Congress — were part of the pressure campaign to have him join the GOP following his easy victory in last week’s midterm elections.
They did not offer him anything specific, such as a committee chairmanship, Cuellar said, but instead extended him an open-ended enticement.
“They just said, ‘Name your price,’” Cuellar told reporters in the Capitol.
His response was simple. “No, thank you,” he said.
Cuellar is among the most moderate Democrats in Congress. And The Wall Street Journal first reported this week that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who is facing an internal revolt from conservatives in his bid to become the next Speaker, sought to bring Cuellar into the Republican tent to help him seize the gavel.
Cuellar on Tuesday clarified that McCarthy did not approach him directly, but at least four other Republicans did, he said, including “one member, a couple folks from K Street [and] a former member.”
He did not name names.”