UPDATE: House expected to take a 15th round of voting for speaker amid speculation that Gaetz might flip
A 15th round of voting is underway after Republican Kevin McCarthy failed to win the House speakership on a 14th ballot late Friday.
Even after two key Republican holdouts voted present to lower the tally he would need, it was not enough. McCarthy strode to the back of the chamber to confront Matt Gaetz, sitting with Lauren Boebert and other holdouts. Fingers were pointed, words exchanged and colleagues stared on in disbelief.McCarthy had declared to reporters earlier in the day that he believed "we'll have the votes to finish this once and for all.
The showdown that has stymied the new Congress came against the backdrop of the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, which shook the country when a mob of then-President Donald Trump's supporters tried to stop Congress from certifying the Republican's 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.
One significant former holdout, Republican Scott Perry, chairman of the conservative Freedom Caucus who had been a leader of Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 election, tweeted after his switched vote for McCarthy: "We're at a turning point." With 432 members now voting - including the dramatic return of Democrat David Trone who had been out for surgery - McCarthy still fell short of the majority. Six Republicans cast their ballots for a Republican colleague. McCarthy allies were counting on the return of two absent colleagues to push him even closer to the majority in nighttime voting.
Electing a speaker is normally an easy, joyous task for a party that has just won majority control. But not this time: About 200 Republicans have been stymied by 20 far-right colleagues who said he's not conservative enough.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kevin McCarthy fails in 14th vote for speaker; 15th round underwayRepublican leader Kevin McCarthy failed again after a 14th round of voting for House speaker on Friday night.
Read more »
McCarthy fails as tensions boil over on House floor; 15th vote startedThe switched votes from conservative holdouts put McCarthy closer to seizing the gavel for the new Congress — but not yet able.
Read more »
Kevin McCarthy loses 14th round of House speaker voting, a blow after having signaled confidenceBREAKING: Kevin McCarthy loses 14th round of House speaker voting, a blow after having signaled confidence he had finally swayed enough hard-liners.
Read more »
Analysis | The anti-McCarthy bloc in the House has long been anti-McCarthyAnalysis: On average, the anti-McCarthy faction agreed with him on votes only three-quarters of the time in the last congress. Most of his opponents, 16 of them, have served previously and held positions further to the right than the rest of their caucus.
Read more »
California Rep. Kevin McCarthy loses, gains as House speaker election drags on: 'I voted present'Kevin McCarthy lost support from some Republicans in his bid for House speaker, as Rep. -elect Victoria Spartz, R-Ind. switched her vote to present on Wednesday.
Read more »