Live updates: After record 13 ballots, House adjourns until night still without a speaker
Live updates: After record 13 ballots, House adjourns until night still without a speaker
January 06, 2023
Hawaii
WASHINGTON—The House is adjourned until 10 p.m. Friday, but House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy said he was hopeful when lawmakers reconvene he will be elected speaker.
And for the first day this week, there is some momentum behind that vote.
Four grueling days of negotiations and the most speaker votes in 100 years finally produced some results in his favor, flipping 14 of the 20 detractors in his path to holding the gavel.
Just before the House recessed around 4 p.m., McCarthy told reporters he would have the votes he needs to win during a potential vote at 10 p.m.
“We’ll get it done tonight,” he said.
Two years after the U.S. Capitol was stormed by a violent mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters, the House GOP was in turmoil as Republicans struggled to elect a House speaker.
the GOP has vowed to fight back on narratives around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, COVID-19 and Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. But without a speaker of the House, the party remains in political purgatory.
House honoring January 6 anniversary: Before the House reconvened Friday, Democrats and Republicans remembered the Jan. 6 anniversary in press conferences to honor those mpacted by the violent attack two years ago.
McCarthy keeps losing, Biden mocks House GOP: 5 takeaways from Day 2 of the new Congress
What happens after McCarthy loses multiple speaker votes? Here’s how it works.
The official numbers from ballot 13: McCarthy still a few votes away
McCarthy and his allies were unable to win the speakership.
The 13th ballot again gave McCarthy 214 votes, according to the official House tally, three less than he needed to claim the House Speakers’ job.
Six Republicans continued to vote for Jim Jordan, denying the majority to McCarthy.
Democrat Hakeem Jeffries again recorded 212 votes from minority party colleagues.
– David Jackson
McCarthy standoff:A visual guide to a House speaker deadlock not seen for a century
House adjourns without a new speaker as McCarthy loses three rounds of voting
McCarthy’s push to become House speaker is sparking jokes on Twitter
A group of GOP lawmakers, who were among the McCarthy dissenters who flipped their vote to McCarthy in the 12th ballot, told reporters that the party has agreed to a framework as ongoing conversations continue.
“It is the framework of an agreement in good faith that allows us to keep moving forward,” said Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry.
The group would not provide specifics, but said the framework involves the motion to vacate, spending and “conservative representation.”
– Rachel Looker and Sarah Elbeshbishi
The holdouts:Who are the Republicans balking at Kevin McCarthy as a House speaker?
Kevin McCarthy was once rejected for a House internship. Now he could become the next speakerdepending on how many House members vote; some members are absent or may choose not to vote on a future ballot.
A 13th ballot is expected soon.
Republicans are now pressuring the seven holdouts who voted for McCarthy alternatives; Jim Jordan received four votes and Kevin Hern took three, and both of them are supporting McCarthy.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries pulled 211 votes from colleagues – the first time he has not led the balloting this week.
– David Jackson
The process explained:What happens after McCarthy loses multiple speaker votes? Here’s how it works.
Who are the Republicans balking at Kevin McCarthy as a House speaker?
McCarthy momentum: Would-be House Speaker picks up votes, falls just a little short
Kevin McCarthy finally picked up some momentum Friday, winning at least 14 new votes on the week’s 12th ballot and getting very close to the majority he needs to claim the speaker’s job.
With the official results still being tallied, McCarthy tentatively won at least 214 votes, just short of the House majority he needs to become speaker. That number is a moving target of 217 or 216 because some members are not casting votes.
The new McCarthy supporters had voted for other people during the three previous days, but went with the Republican leader he made concessions to them over rules and committee assignments.
McCarthy and allies hope the new numbers will pressure remaining opponents to cave and end this impasse.
Another vote is likely to happen soon.
– David Jackson
Gaetz nominates Jordan, saying ‘McCarthy doesn’t have the votes’
Gaetz nominates Jordan, saying “McCarthy doesn’t have the votes”
After stating that Rep. Kevin McCarthy would still not have enough backing for the role of speaker, Rep. Matt Gaetz nominated Rep. Jim Jordan in the twelfth round of voting.
“Mr. McCarthy doesn’t have the votes today. He will not have the votes tomorrow. And he will not have the votes next week, next month, next year,” Gaetz said.
In his address, Gaetz called the Ohio Rep. “the Lebron James of fundraising.” Gaetz had previously nominated Jordan on the first day of voting, despite Jordan consistently casting his own vote for McCarthy in each round. Jordan was not nominated again Wednesday or Thursday.
— Savannah Kuchar
Clyburn evokes Jan. 6 when nominating Jeffries
South Carolina Democrat James Clyburn was the first lawmaker to remind colleagues about the 2-year anniversary of the insurrectionist attack on the Capitol when rising to nominate colleague Hakeem Jeffries for the speakership.
“Exactly two years ago today our resolve was tested when a violent mob of insurrections attacked our Capitol, threatened the integrity of this democracy and undermined our Constitution,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers honored those impacted, injured and killed during the riot.
Clyburn, a veteran Democratic leader, also bemoaned how the chaos of the week has paralyzed Congress, saying Jeffries is “prepared to lead” and will protect democracy.
The 212 House Democrats have remained united behind Jeffries, of New York, during the entire saga.
— Phillip M. Bailey
McCarthy backer laments “dentistry of last few days”
In re-nominating McCarthy for the speaker’s job, Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Cal., opened Day Four with a vivid and painful metaphor for the process.
The “dentistry of last few days” has been painful for everybody, Garcia said ahead of a 12th ballot in the speaker’s race.
Republicans are still trying to drill down to a resolution.
– David Jackson
Most of McCarthy’s detractors received campaign money from him
Thirteen of the 20 people who keep voting against Kevin McCarthy for speaker received campaign money this cycle from McCarthy’s political action committee, Majority Committee PAC, according to records from the Federal Election Commission.
They include Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, leader of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, and Byron Donalds of Florida, who at first voted for McCarthy but then switched his vote, and ended up becoming a candidate for speaker himself.
Seven of the 20 received no money from McCarthy’s main fundraising PACs. They include Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
— Erin Mansfield
House speakership still undecided
As the first week of the 118th Congress comes to a close, a House speaker has not yet been selected.
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., or Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. Without those votes, McCarthy is short of the votes needed to win the powerful position.
Democrats have remained united around leader Hakeem Jeffries, all 212 voting in his favor in all 10 votes.
The situation has left Congress stymied, since no member of the House of Representatives can be sworn in and no rules can be adopted until someone is selected for the role.
– Ella Lee
What to expect on Day 4
When the House gavels in at noon Friday, it will become evident if Thursday negotiations were fruitful for House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy who has lost 11 consecutive votes for speaker.
Lawmakers and political analysts in both parties discussed last night the possibility of a deal that could appease 20 rebels in his right flank and whether at least 16 of them would be swayed to McCarthy’s side.
On the fourth day of a new Congress without a speaker and sworn-in members, all eyes will be on the competing GOP factions of McCarthy and his 200 allies and his 20 detractors led by Reps. Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy, Scott Perry and Andy Biggs.
The math allows McCarthy to lose four of the 20 in his bid for speaker. But after days of a cumbersome process, any movement to his side would be seen as a huge momentum shift for the caucus leader.
It’s possible a historic 12th vote could begin at noon, or some members could push for an adjournment until Monday, leaving Congress without a House speaker or sworn-in representatives for the weekend. McCarthy is not in favor of adjourning for the weekend and has said the House shouldn’t leave if its work isn’t done.
“Progress” has been the magic word all week, with both McCarthy allies and opponents telling reporters an agreement was near.
Friday could prove them right or wrong.
— Candy Woodall
House to honor Jan. 6 anniversary
Before the House reconvenes Friday, Democrats and Republicans will remember the Jan. 6 anniversary in press conferences to honor those who were killed, injured and impacted by the violent attack two years ago.
At 9:30 a.m. on the House Triangle, Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Dean Phillips of Minnesota will mark the anniversary and highlight the recently passed Electoral Count Reform Act they say “will help preserve the integrity of our elections and protect democracy.”
At 10 a.m. on the House steps, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries will hold a bipartisan remembrance with Republicans, recognizing two years since the attack.
Many House members serving today were there on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob stormed the Capitol.
