No sooner had lawmakers reconvened to vote for the seventh time for speaker of the House than Republicans put forward another motion to adjourn to keep negotiating with the conservative hard-liners keeping Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from winning the gavel.
Democrats objected in a voice vote, asking for a roll call vote on whether to adjourn. The contentious vote ended with 216 votes in favor of adjourning and 214 against, while two lawmakers from each party did not vote. The body will reconvene at noon Thursday.
The four Republicans who joined Democrats in trying to force another vote Wednesday night were Reps. Andy Biggs (AZ), Lauren Boebert (CO), Eli Crane (AZ), and Matt Gaetz (FL).
The clerk’s attempts to end the vote were met with yelling as lawmakers apparently took their time deciding which way they would vote. Democrats hollered “One more vote!” as the clerk tried several times to end the count after time ran out.
Chaos in the House during the vote for whether or not to adjourn.
They narrowly decided to adjourn, so the seventh vote for Speaker will not take place tonight. pic.twitter.com/6H0fxZ3YPv
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) January 5, 2023
McCarthy hopes to keep talks going through the night with the 20 Republicans who blocked his bid on the six previous votes. He said coming out of meetings with his detractors that the two sides made progress since the last vote around 4 p.m.
While the chamber adjourned for over three hours to continue negotiating, the political action committee aligned with McCarthy agreed not to fund primary races — a major sticking point with the conservative wing united against him. McCarthy needs 218 votes to win the gavel and ended the last vote with 201 in his favor when one member voted present.
During the recess, McCarthy’s allies held a press conference in which they reaffirmed their support for the leader and said they wouldn’t “unconditionally surrender” to just 20 of their colleagues. McCarthy spent the time meeting with his critics, who today backed Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) for speaker.
This is the first time since 1923 that choosing the speaker has taken more than one ballot. Each of the votes is recorded by individual roll call in alphabetical order. Democrats have all voted for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
McCarthy seems to be damaged goods at this point. All of these issues should have been resolved BEFORE this humiliating clown show ensued.
How discouraging that these fools are providing the laugh track for the Dems across the aisle to gleefully indulge and exploit to their maximum benefit. That part can’t be undone now. Use this opportunity to deep-six McCarthy and select a real conservative.
Kevin McCarthy is a deep stater who must not get the gavel.
We need a Chip Roy or Jim Jordan as speaker of the house.
So what this article is saying is…this is the first time since 1923 the bullies and deals in the backrooms have not been successful? I call that a dramatic win for the Republic.
McCarthy has made concessions. Gates and friends don’t seem to want a win! We are on the Verge of Losing our country, our constitutional republic, our god-given rights , everything will change, including losing our freedom of speech and our God given, rights.