Rep. Kevin McCarthy failed Wednesday on the fourth ballot to win enough votes to become the next speaker of the House, as the Republican stalemate continued into a second day.
The House took up a fifth ballot less than two hours after the fourth, with McCarthy and Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries each being nominated for the fifth time.
The GOP breakaway faction nominated on the fourth and fifth ballots another Republican, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, instead of Rep. Jim Jordan – who had voted for McCarthy and has said he wasn’t seeking the speakership. With the Democrats having nominated Jeffries, it marked the first time in history two Black men were nominated to be speaker of the House.
Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher made an impassioned plea for McCarthy in his nominating speech, saying he is “proud” to be a member of a party that invites debate and acknowledged the frustrations from a faction of the Republican conference.
Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social to try to sway the rebel Republicans toward McCarthy, writing that “it’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL.” Former Vice President Mike Pence also tweeted his support for McCarthy.
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But McCarthy not only fell short on the fourth ballot, he lost another Republican, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, who voted “present.” McCarthy had suggested Tuesday night that he might prevail with a lower majority, and if some of the 19 holdouts were to vote “present,” he could win. However, Spartz was not among the holdouts. She voted for him on Tuesday.
Although this was the first time in roughly 100 years it’s taken more than one ballot to vote in a new speaker, this delay is far from unprecedented. In 1855, the House took four months to select a new speaker.
The House cannot conduct any business until a new speaker is elected by a majority of members – not even swear in the new members. “There is no House of Representatives as we know it. There is no member of the House currently sworn in,” CBS News senior White House and political correspondent Ed O’Keefe noted on CBS News’ streaming channel Tuesday following the three failed votes.
The House speaker is second in line for the U.S. presidency.
