Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) finally broke an impasse between him and many of his detractors as the House speaker election headed to a 12th ballot Friday.
He signaled an “improvement in votes” heading into the House chamber, a prediction that bore out as 14 Republicans dropped their opposition and cast their vote for McCarthy — 13 in the 12th round and one in the 13th. The Republican holdouts now backing his candidacy are:
- Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC)
- Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK)
- Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA)
- Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX)
- Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL)
- Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD)
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL)
- Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL)
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC)
- Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA)
- Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX)
- Rep. Keith Self (R-TX)
- Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
- Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN)
HOUSE SPEAKER HOLDUP AFFECTING CONSTITUENT SERVICES
Additionally, Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), who had dropped her support to vote “present” on prior rounds, decided to once again back McCarthy on the 12th ballot. Harris changed his vote to support McCarthy on the 13th ballot.
The GOP leader walked away from the latest ballot with 214 votes to incoming Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’s (D-NY) 212, with Friday marking the first time McCarthy has received a plurality. He presently needs three more votes to become speaker.
Six Republicans continued to vote against him:
- Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ)
- Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO)
- Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ)
- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)
- Rep. Bob Good (R-VA)
- Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT)
The GOP leader on Thursday put down on paper a series of concessions that would weaken his speakership and elevate the conservative House Freedom Caucus should he get the gavel. Among the sticking points, McCarthy agreed to allow a single member to call for a vote to oust a sitting speaker.
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In casting their ballots, a number of the holdouts voted for McCarthy so long as he negotiates “in good faith.”
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who is leading negotiations with Roy, formerly a GOP holdout, welcomed the result as votes were being tallied, telling reporters, “Progress is progress, and we’re happy with progress.”
