Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) flipped 14 votes in his favor on the 12th ballot for House speaker, the first headway he has made against a group of 20 holdouts denying him the gavel.
The impasse broke, at least partially, after McCarthy offered a number of concessions to his detractors. Reps. Dan Bishop (R-NC), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Mary Miller (R-IL), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Scott Perry (R-PA), the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, Chip Roy (R-TX), Keith Self (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), and Andy Ogles (R-TN) threw their support behind McCarthy after opposing him on the first 11 rounds.
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Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), who had dropped her support to vote “present” on prior rounds, decided to once again back McCarthy.
He racked up 213 votes on the 12th ballot, the first time McCarthy received a plurality. Incoming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) earned 211. Seven holdouts continued to stand against him, however, and he can only afford to lose four due to the GOP’s slim majority.
His remaining opponents are Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Bob Good (R-VA), Andy Harris (R-MD), and Matt Rosendale (R-MT).
Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) gave the first nominating speech of the day on behalf of McCarthy.
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“This is actually not about Kevin McCarthy,” he said. “It’s about the preservation of the Constitution.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) nominated Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the third time he’s changed his nomination in three votes, having backed Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) on the 10th ballot and former President Donald Trump on the 11th. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) again nominated Hern.
