This Tuesda,y the House of Representatives met to elect its next speaker. What is usually a straightforward vote has turned into a multi-round process that will continue on Wednesday, something that has not happened for a century.
Kevin McCarthy, who was considered by Republicans as the obvious choice for the position, failed to win the necessary support on three ballots but is preparing to try to reach an agreement with his fellow Republican representatives.
After three rounds of votes without a new Speaker being elected, the House adjourns until noon Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/yuKfJhwsxJ
— The Recount (@therecount) January 3, 2023
Division
Despite the fact that Republicans hold 222 seats and the Democrats hold just 212, the lack of an agreement among GOP representatives has become apparent after several Republican voters turned their backs on McCarthy (R-Calif.).
The more conservative wing of the Republicans has insisted that McCarthy "should step down" and allow someone else to fill the position. However, the candidate is determined to go ahead, so the vote could take months. It should be recalled that the rules of the House indicate that the process must be carried out until a candidate obtains the required 218 votes.
The last time an election was blocked was in 1923, when it took nine trials before Frederick Gillett (R-Mass.), was deemed victorious.
Who voted against?
Republicans who have turned their backs on McCarthy are almost all members of the House Freedom Caucus; Andy Biggs, Dan Bishop, Lauren Boebert, Josh Brecheen, Michael Cloud, Andrew S. Clyde, Eli Crane, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good, Paul A. Gosar, Andy Harris, Anna Paulina Luna, Mary E. Miller, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Scott Perry, Chip Roy, Matthew M. Rosendale and Keith Self are the names that have most strongly opposed McCarthy.
We’ve outlined to @gopleader for months what the next #Speaker must embrace to be successful in setting America and the House back on track — he rejected it. I believe @Jim_Jordan — and likely many others — are up to the task at hand, and I’ll keep going until they emerge.
— RepScottPerry (@RepScottPerry) January 3, 2023
Most of them chose to vote for Biggs during the first round, with some opting for Jim Jordan. Jordan did not even file for candidacy. In fact, he himself voted for McCarthy and called on the rest of the party to do the same.
A Democrat as speaker?
Although it would seem illogical to think of a Democrat winning the seat considering that the Republicans are the majority in the House, the truth is that with the division in the Republican Party, they have managed to give the Democratic leader the lead.
Hakeem Jeffries garnered 212 votes in the three rounds of voting so far, while Kevin McCarthy only got 203 in the first two rounds and 202 in the third.
THIRD BALLOT HOUSE SPEAKER RESULTS:
212: Hakeem Jeffries (D)
202: Kevin McCarthy (R)
20: Jim Jordan (R)Onto round 4. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is the only vote that flipped, from McCarthy to Jordan.
— The Recount (@therecount) January 3, 2023
Although the votes obtained by the Democratic leader are not enough to win the position of speaker, it once again highlights the tension in the Republican Party.
Pact with Democrats
After the complicated rounds of voting, some Republicans are trying to reach agreements with Democrats to choose the speaker.
According to former Ohio Governor John Kasich, the intention would be to elect a "coalition government". But this option could come at the cost of a pact that includes not investigating President Joe Biden or his family, according to Breitbart.
A block of House Republicans should get together with Democrats to pick a speaker to run a coalition government, which will moderate the House and marginalize the extremists.
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) January 3, 2023
