Republican Kevin McCarthy failed to win the House speakership on a 14th ballot late Friday, falling one vote short as tensions boiled over in a chaotic scene on the House floor.
The House gaveled in late in the night, giving time for last-minute negotiations and for absent Republican colleagues time to return to Washington if their votes were needed. But the chamber drew tense and still as the roll call fell short.
Even if McCarthy is able to secure the votes he needs, he will emerge as a weakened speaker, having given away some powers and constantly under the threat of being booted by his detractors. Contours of a deal with conservative holdouts who have been blocking McCarthy's rise emerged after three dismal days and 11 failed votes in an intraparty standoff unseen in modern times.
Trump may have played a role in swaying the holdouts. Donalds said he had spoken to the former president who had been urging Republicans to wrap up their public dispute the day before. But in nominating the Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat Jim Clyburn recalled the horror of that day and told his colleagues: “The eyes of the country are on us today,” he said.
The agreement McCarthy presented to the holdouts from the Freedom Caucus and others centers around rules changes they have been seeking for months. Those changes would shrink the power of the speaker’s office and give rank-and-file lawmakers more influence in drafting and passing legislation.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Inching forwards - but still not enough votes for Republican Kevin McCarthy to become US House speakerThere is a glimmer of hope for the Republican congressman that he may be on the verge of a deal with the conservatives in his party who have been blocking his appointment to the third most powerful position in US politics.
Read more »
These Are Kevin McCarthy’s Republican HoldoutsThe House cannot tackle any other business until it has a speaker, but the new Republican majority remains fractured over the leadership vote
Read more »
These Are the Republican Detractors Who Just Switched Their Support for Kevin McCarthyDuring the 13th round of votes for Speaker, 15 Republican holdouts switched to support Kevin McCarthy.
Read more »
Kevin McCarthy loses historic 11th vote for US House SpeakerThe deadlock will continue into a fourth day, since no business can go ahead until a speaker is picked.
Read more »
McCarthy Fails for 3rd Day in Bitter GOP House Speaker FightThe House stalemate over choosing a new speaker has held firm through a long, excruciating third day and evening of voting with no conclusion. But glimmers of a deal began to emerge late Thursday. Party leader Kevin McCarthy is determined to win over enough fellow Republicans. He has offered the conservative holdouts rule changes to give them more power to shape legislation —and to boot him from office. But it’s still just “round one,” one of the holdouts said. So far, 11 roll call votes have failed to elect a speaker. The impasse has left the House unable to fully form and govern. Members voted to adjourn, returning Friday.
Read more »