April 19, 2024
McCarthy Fails To Secure Enough Votes To Become House Speaker

Update (1310ET): Not even a quarter of the way through roll call, and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has failed to secure enough votes to become Speaker of the House - which will push the contest into a multiple-ballot vote.

According to the Washington Post's Paul Kane, the last time this happened was 1923.

What's next? As Politico reports:

After McCarthy fails to get 218 votes on the first ballot, the Freedom Caucus antagonists have signaled that they will start backing another yet-unnamed candidate on the second ballot. The Daily Beast reported Monday night that that person is Ohio Rep. JIM JORDAN, the longtime McCarthy critic-turned-ally.

The Ohio Republican, however, has no shot at being speaker — something that his adoring conservative colleagues know very well. But, per the Daily Beast story, that’s not the point: They’re hoping to peel off more Republicans to back Jordan, aiming to have McCarthy’s vote count decrease from the first ballot to the second.

It’s an open question how long today will go until someone nominates a viable candidate for the gavel — someone like STEVE SCALISE (R-La.) or PATRICK McHENRY (R-N.C.). And there’s a fear that if one of these member’s names is called too early in the process, the conference will turn on them.

Buckle up. It’s going to be a long day. 

*  *  *

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) gave a Tuesday morning speech imploring fellow Republicans to elect him as Speaker of the House, as several notable members of the GOP have openly opposed McCarthy.

According to Axios, McCarthy has given hardliners nearly everything they've asked for, however he still hasn't secured enough votes for the position, meaning that for the first time in 100 years, the House will likely hold multiple ballots for the speaker.

In his Tuesday speech, McCarthy listed all the concessions he's made to the right, and pointed out that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) praised elements of his rules package. Gaetz, notably, has spearheaded the anti-McCarthy movement within the chamber.

"I've earned this job," said McCarthy, after running through everything he's done to become speaker - to which Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) reportedly shook his head, according to Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman.

"This is bullshit," said Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) in response to McCarthy's speech.

In December, Gaetz said he wouldn't vote for McCarthy because he's "just a shill of the establishment."

McCarthy also got into an argument with Rep. Perry, who accused McCarthy of having no track record on spending bills.

McCarthy's supporters chime in:

In addition to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), McCarthy has the support of neocon Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), who has called McCarthy's detractors "enemies" and "narcissists."

"They are enemies now. They have made it clear that they prefer a Democrat agenda than a Republican," Crenshaw told CNN's Manu Raju.

"This handful of members is very clearly looking for notoriety over principle. That's what it is. And anyone who suggests differently is in some kind of make believe fantasy reality. It's not, it's not true," he continued, adding "They lost those debates."

"That should have been the end of it because that's how a team works, right? But if you're a narcissist, … then you'll keep going. And you'll threaten to tear down the team for the benefit of the Democrats just because of your own sense of self importance."

Another McCarthy supporter, Mike Rogers (R-AL), said the GOP should bar McCarthy dissenters from getting committee slots - an idea Chip Roy didn't like. 

Here's Roy in December explaining the situation;

According to Axios, this could become a war of attrition in which "[a] good number of pro-McCarthy House Republicans are hoping some of the holdouts are bluffing and looking for a show — and will ultimately get worn down enough during the process to cave for McCarthy."

The likely candidate to replace McCarthy, in the unlikely event he pulls out, is Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), who said he won't run against McCarthy but has been quietly preparing for this scenario.

It doesn't look like McCarthy is too worried...

Tyler Durden Tue, 01/03/2023 - 13:05

Update (1310ET): Not even a quarter of the way through roll call, and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has failed to secure enough votes to become Speaker of the House – which will push the contest into a multiple-ballot vote.

According to the Washington Post‘s Paul Kane, the last time this happened was 1923.

What’s next? As Politico reports:

After McCarthy fails to get 218 votes on the first ballot, the Freedom Caucus antagonists have signaled that they will start backing another yet-unnamed candidate on the second ballot. The Daily Beast reported Monday night that that person is Ohio Rep. JIM JORDAN, the longtime McCarthy critic-turned-ally.

The Ohio Republican, however, has no shot at being speaker — something that his adoring conservative colleagues know very well. But, per the Daily Beast story, that’s not the point: They’re hoping to peel off more Republicans to back Jordan, aiming to have McCarthy’s vote count decrease from the first ballot to the second.

It’s an open question how long today will go until someone nominates a viable candidate for the gavel — someone like STEVE SCALISE (R-La.) or PATRICK McHENRY (R-N.C.). And there’s a fear that if one of these member’s names is called too early in the process, the conference will turn on them.

Buckle up. It’s going to be a long day. 

*  *  *

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) gave a Tuesday morning speech imploring fellow Republicans to elect him as Speaker of the House, as several notable members of the GOP have openly opposed McCarthy.

According to Axios, McCarthy has given hardliners nearly everything they’ve asked for, however he still hasn’t secured enough votes for the position, meaning that for the first time in 100 years, the House will likely hold multiple ballots for the speaker.

In his Tuesday speech, McCarthy listed all the concessions he’s made to the right, and pointed out that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) praised elements of his rules package. Gaetz, notably, has spearheaded the anti-McCarthy movement within the chamber.

“I’ve earned this job,” said McCarthy, after running through everything he’s done to become speaker – to which Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) reportedly shook his head, according to Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman.

“This is bullshit,” said Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) in response to McCarthy’s speech.

In December, Gaetz said he wouldn’t vote for McCarthy because he’s “just a shill of the establishment.”

McCarthy also got into an argument with Rep. Perry, who accused McCarthy of having no track record on spending bills.

McCarthy’s supporters chime in:

In addition to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), McCarthy has the support of neocon Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), who has called McCarthy’s detractors “enemies” and “narcissists.”

“They are enemies now. They have made it clear that they prefer a Democrat agenda than a Republican,” Crenshaw told CNN‘s Manu Raju.

“This handful of members is very clearly looking for notoriety over principle. That’s what it is. And anyone who suggests differently is in some kind of make believe fantasy reality. It’s not, it’s not true,” he continued, adding “They lost those debates.”

“That should have been the end of it because that’s how a team works, right? But if you’re a narcissist, … then you’ll keep going. And you’ll threaten to tear down the team for the benefit of the Democrats just because of your own sense of self importance.”

Another McCarthy supporter, Mike Rogers (R-AL), said the GOP should bar McCarthy dissenters from getting committee slots – an idea Chip Roy didn’t like. 

Here’s Roy in December explaining the situation;

According to Axios, this could become a war of attrition in which “[a] good number of pro-McCarthy House Republicans are hoping some of the holdouts are bluffing and looking for a show — and will ultimately get worn down enough during the process to cave for McCarthy.”

The likely candidate to replace McCarthy, in the unlikely event he pulls out, is Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), who said he won’t run against McCarthy but has been quietly preparing for this scenario.

It doesn’t look like McCarthy is too worried…

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