Posted on 01/04/2023 12:25:30 PM PST by Red Badger
Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Kevin McCarthy lost for a fifth time his bid to lead Republicans as speaker of the House on Wednesday.
During the fourth and fifth ballots on Wednesday, McCarthy received 201 votes, while the Democratic Nominee, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, received 212 votes from Democrats as he did in each vote on Tuesday.
However, this time it was Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, instead of Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who took votes away from McCarthy. Donalds received 20 votes on the fourth and fifth ballots.
Opposition to McCarthy has been growing with each ballot. A total of 20 Republican colleagues opposed McCarthy during the third vote on Tuesday, which wrapped up shortly before 5 p.m., an increase from 19 during the second vote. He had collected 202 votes on the third ballot on Tuesday, one more than Wednesday's fourth ballot.
Rep.-elect Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted present in the fourth and fifth votes, voting for McCarthy in previous rounds.
It's unclear if there will be a sixth ballot on Wednesday.
Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., nominated McCarthy for the fourth vote on Wednesday, saying he was the best choice to lead the party as the House convened for a fourth vote to settle the chamber's leadership.
"I believe that in my bones, nobody has done more to lay out a plan for how we restore the basic functioning of this institution than Kevin McCarthy," he said.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., nominated Jeffries for both the fourth and fifth vote, while Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, nominated Donalds.
"We do not seek to judge people by the color of their skin but rather the content of their character," Roy said. "There's an important reason for nominating Byron, and that is, this country needs a change."
Tuesday's vote marked the first time in 100 years a speaker has not been elected on the first ballot.
McCarthy expressed optimism on Tuesday night that he would still emerge victorious, even though some Republicans have suggested that McCarthy could lose more votes.
"This isn't about me," McCarthy told reporters. "This is about the conference now because the members who are holding out ... they want something for their personal selves."
McCarthy also told reporters that it doesn't matter if he loses more votes.
"It doesn't matter -- I have the most votes," he said.
Donalds had voted for McCarthy during the first two rounds, but voted against him during the third round. He suggested that McCarthy could lose more votes the longer voting goes on.
McCarthy has reportedly said that there is no scenario where he pulls out of the race for speaker, noting that he could seek a path in which he does not need to secure 218 votes, but rather a smaller majority by convincing some of his detractors to vote "present."
"You're sitting on 202 votes, so you need technically just 11 more votes to win," he said. "Democrats have 212 votes. You get 213 votes, and the others don't say another name, that's how you can win."
Ahead of Tuesday's votes, McCarthy had announced several concessions in a proposed House rules package, including changes to how the speaker could be removed, in an effort to gain the necessary votes. The concessions would allow any five Republican party members to call for the speaker's removal at any time, rather than a threshold of more than half of the House GOP conference that Republicans adopted in an internal rule in November.
Despite the concessions, several Republicans followed through on their plan to vote for Jordan.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia criticized fellow Republicans who opposed McCarthy, noting that even Jordan is supporting McCarthy.
"How did 19 Republicans not respect that?" Greene said. "I think 19, or 20 now, should respect Jim Jordan's wishes."
Former President Donald Trump said the Republicans should vote for McCarthy.
"I think it is a dangerous game, and, frankly, if they are not happy with him, they can do something about it at a later date," Trump told Fox News Digital in an interview. "I support [McCarthy] and I support getting the deal done. What I don't support is allowing this to continue onward."
So McCarty, 5 times isn’t enough to show off your pompous and conceited ass?
“McCarthy is Paul Ryan’s Butt Boy.”
True that. Don’t forget Frank Luntz (sp) Butt buddies sharing apartments in DC.
Trump has gone from wanting to drain the swamp to trying to save it.
Get lost.
Trump is naive as hell when it comes to politics.
He trusts people too much.
He sees them basically the same way as when he was a real estate developer and TV celebrity.
In politics, they become enemies rather quickly............
Trump trusts the American working class which is good enough for me.
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