The vote for speaker of the House dragged out into a sixth round of voting after Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) again failed to reach the necessary votes to claim the gavel.
The 20 GOP lawmakers blocking him from taking the gavel rallied behind Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) during the fourth ballot on Wednesday after they all supported Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) in the second and third ballots on Tuesday. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) voted “present” in the fourth and fifth rounds after backing McCarthy in the first three, and if she continues to do so in subsequent rounds, she lowers the threshold for winning to 217 votes.
The outcome of the fifth and sixth ballots mirrored that of the fourth, with McCarthy failing to sway detractors but not losing further support.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS FRITTER AWAY NEGOTIATING LEVERAGE VERSUS DEMOCRATS WITH SPEAKER FIGHT
Donalds also began the process supporting McCarthy but switched his vote to Jordan during the third vote Tuesday. He voted for himself on Wednesday.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), a leader in the conservative revolt against McCarthy, said McCarthy hasn’t made enough concessions on the House rules during a floor speech nominating Donalds.
“We have had a conversation for two months to advance the ball, and we have had success in doing that, but we’re not there,” Roy said. “We’re not at the place we need to be to guarantee that we’re going to be able to stand up in the face of the swamp that continues to step over the American people on a daily basis.”
McCarthy has made major concessions on rules but is refusing to consider lowering the threshold to bring forward a vote of no confidence in party leaders from five members to one. The lowering to five members was already a major compromise because currently only leadership can bring forward a motion to vacate the chair.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The historic vote series was the first time two black lawmakers were nominated for speaker of the House. Incoming Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) became the first black person nominated for speaker on Tuesday, and his entire caucus has unanimously voted for him on each ballot.
McCarthy is refusing to back down, and this marks the first time since 1923 that the House has gone past one round of voting to select the speaker.
