(WASHINGTON) — House Republicans on Monday approved news rules for the chamber for the next two years, in the first major legislative action after the chaotic and historic process of electing Kevin McCarthy speaker.
McCarthy, R-Calif., had offered multiple concessions to his GOP critics, including rules changes, in order to win the necessary support for the speaker’s gavel — though the deal rankled some centrists in the party.
The new rules mark a sharp change in procedure on Capitol Hill, where Democrats have been in control for the last two years. The new rules also underline what is likely to be a period of tension with the Democratic Senate and Biden White House, such as on spending.
The protocols further reflect McCarthy ceding some power as speaker to his rank-and-file members.
Motion to vacate the chair
One of the main changes McCarthy agreed to was lowering the threshold needed to trigger a vote on booting any speaker, including him.
Before 2019, when then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., took control, any one member could trigger a vote under the so-called motion to vacate the chair. Under Pelosi, such a vote could only be sparked if a majority of either party supported one.
McCarthy, in order to win over some of the dissenters, had suggested lowering the threshold back down to five lawmakers. But ultimately he agreed to one.
While the motion has never been used successfully, the threat of it has helped push two recent speakers — John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Paul Ryan, R-Wis. — into retirement.
During the speakership negotiations, McCarthy also vowed that he would use upcoming debt ceiling negotiations to force the Biden administration to enact spending cuts — a tactic the White House swiftly rejected over GOP outcry that they were being intractable.
On top of that, the new rules package no longer requires the House to automatically increase the borrowing limit through a budget resolution that would be enacted by borrowing that breaches that limit.
The budget ceiling is set to be reached at some point this summer.
Increased amendments to spending bills
Another change in the new rules is allowing any one lawmaker to offer amendments to spending bills.
The move’s supporters say it is intended to increase transparency in some of the government’s most sprawling pieces of legislation — shortly after the passage of a $1.7 trillion spending bill late last year that was largely negotiated behind closed doors.
However, the change could also lead to increased gridlock on legislation that is foundational to keeping the government — from welfare programs to the military — running. Critics say the new amendment process may result in what is essentially a House version of the Senate filibuster, in which a single lawmaker uses procedure to delay legislation.
The House has 435 members, each of whom will be able to talk for 10 minutes on the floor to introduce their spending amendments, meaning in theory there could be over three straight days of amendments just being introduced — if lawmakers didn’t take any breaks.
The amendment rule change “makes it messy. It makes it time-consuming,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, acknowledged on CNN on Sunday. “But it does make members feel like they actually have a voice.”
New spending must be counterbalanced with cuts
Reflecting Republicans’ fiscal focus, the rules package also requires that any new spending that the chamber passes must be offset by cuts, though it doesn’t explicitly say where those reductions would have to come from.
However, the GOP has long targeted entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicaid.
Defense spending cuts
Defense spending has emerged as one of the main sticking points for some Republican centrists, with more traditional hawks taking issue with future caps.
The language in the package seeks to limit discretionary federal government spending at the 2022 level for the next 10 years — which, if enacted and applied to defense programs, would translate into a roughly 10% reduction.
While some Republicans more aligned with former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy advocate for a smaller international footprint, arguing that the Pentagon’s budget is bloated, other conservatives have said it creates national security risks.
Subcommittee to investigate
The new rules include language regarding the formation of a House judiciary subcommittee to investigate the “weaponization of the federal government.”
The panel will have the ability to look at how the federal government collects and analyzes information on Americans and probe any ongoing criminal inquiries. Boosting the committee’s power, it will also get access to the highly classified information typically shared only with the House Intelligence Committee.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, will chair the group and is also expected to lead the larger Judiciary Committee.
“We got more resources, more specificity, more power to go after this recalcitrant Biden administration,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said on Fox News on Friday after winning the concessions from McCarthy on the panel and its purview.
Among other things, the committee will be able to investigate the Justice Department’s investigation into the Capitol attack last year, which has ensnared some lawmakers.
Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., who had his phone seized by the FBI last year as part of the inquiry, this weekend did not commit to recusing from the subcommittee, denying that it would constitute a conflict of interest.
“Why should I be limited? Why should anybody be limited just because someone has made an accusation? Everybody in America is innocent until proven otherwise,” Perry told ABC News’ This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.
Holman Rule
The new protocols include the so-called Holman Rule, which allows lawmakers to propose amendments to spending bills that would cut funding for specific programs to $1, essentially defunding them.
The move comes as Republicans target existing investigations into the Jan. 6 insurrection and Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
As with the other spending changes, it’s unlikely that any push to defund those efforts will pass the Democratic-controlled Senate and be signed into law by President Joe Biden. But it could be used as a negotiating tool for Republicans with must-pass legislation.
(WASHINGTON) — The Department of Justice has launched a preliminary review into classified documents found at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C., sources told ABC News.
In a statement, an attorney for President Joe Biden said his team first flagged the materials to both DOJ and the National Archives and Record Administration.
“The White House is cooperating with the National Archives and the Department of Justice regarding the discovery of what appear to be Obama-Biden Administration records, including a small number of documents with classified markings,” Richard Sauber, a special counsel to Biden, said in a statement.
Sauber said the documents were found on Nov. 2 and the National Archives was notified by the White House on the same day, then took possession of them on Nov. 3.
The documents were found by Biden’s personal attorneys while they were “packing files housed in a locked closet to prepare to vacate office space” at the Penn Biden Center, said Sauber, who noted “the documents were not the subject of any previous request or inquiry by the Archives.”
“Since that discovery, the President’s personal attorneys have cooperated with the Archives and the Department of Justice in a process to ensure that any Obama-Biden Administration records are appropriately in the possession of the Archives,” Sauber said.
The president helped launch the Penn Biden Center after leaving office as vice president under Barack Obama.
Biden “periodically used this space from mid-2017 until the start of the 2020 campaign,” Sauber said.
The center operates independently from the administration, according to its website.
Sources said the matter seems to involve only a handful of documents.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has assigned U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch with leading the review into how the documents ended up at the Penn Biden Center, a source familiar confirmed.
Lausch’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The FBI referred comment to the DOJ, who declined to comment.
CBS News first reported the review.
Former President Donald Trump is also being investigated for his handling of classified and sensitive government records. The FBI searched his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida in August.
In that case, according to court records, federal authorities say a criminal referral was sent to them by the National Archives’ inspector general after 15 boxes were handed over by Trump’s team in 2022 that included “highly classified records” intermingled with otherwise innocuous documents.
The subsequent FBI search at Mar-a-Lago found additional sets of documents of various classifications ranging from confidential to top secret and sensitive compartmented information, court records show.
The Justice Department has been investigating the violation of criminal statutes including obstruction of justice. Trump denies wrongdoing.
(NEW YORK) — After months of closed door testimony, the special grand jury seated as part of the Fulton County, Georgia, investigation into potential 2020 election interference has finished its work and submitted its final report, according to a filing in the case Monday morning.
The special grand jury, which was seated in May 2022 as part of the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the election, heard testimony from some of Trump’s closet allies and supporters — including lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman and Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Now, the grand jury has delivered its report and officially has been dissolved, according to a court order by Judge Robert C. McBurney filed on Monday morning.
McBurney has set a Jan. 24 hearing to determine whether the report will be made public.
The special grand jury does not have the ability to return an indictment and can only make recommendations concerning criminal prosecution. Another grand jury would bring any possible charges.
Fulton County District Attorney Fanni Willis officially launched the probe in February 2021, sparked in part by the now-infamous Jan. 2, 2021, phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which Trump pleaded with Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes,” the exact number Trump needed to win Georgia.
Trump, who has denounced the probe, has repeatedly defended his phone call to Raffensperger, calling it “perfect.”
The special grand jury was seated in May 2022. Since then, it has issued subpoenas for testimony to a host of Trump allies, including former Trump chief of staff Marc Meadows and former Georgie Rep. Newt Gingrich.
A number of individuals were informed this summer that they were “targets” of the probe, including Giuliani. Sixteen people identified as “fake electors” were also notified that they were considered targets in the ongoing criminal investigation, prosecutors revealed in court documents.
The 16, who prosecutors alleged participated in a scheme to overturn the state’s election results, received letters alerting them that their “testimony was required by the special purpose grand jury and that [they were] targets of the investigation” the filing said.
(WASHINGTON) — House Republicans plan to give a new panel sweeping authority to investigate active criminal investigations, a mandate that could set up new fights with the Justice Department and national security agencies over sensitive records and probes — including those involving former President Donald Trump.
That’s according to a measure the House is expected to take up this week as part of Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s agreement with a band of some of his most conservative colleagues, who had delayed McCarthy winning the gavel.
An updated version of the resolution — which must first be approved by the House and which is part of the proposed rules that will govern the next two years of the chamber — includes new powers for a judiciary subcommittee that would look into what Republicans call the “weaponization of the federal government.”
The special panel would have authority to investigate how any part of the federal government collects and analyzes information on Americans, along with “ongoing criminal investigations” and civil liberties issues, according to the text of the resolution.
Under the resolution, the panel would also get access to highly classified information shared only with the House Intelligence Committee — some of the government’s most sensitive secrets, which are deliberately kept from nearly all of Congress.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said in an interview with Fox News on Friday that the proposed subcommittee’s mandate was revised and broadened as part of McCarthy’s negotiations with his critics in the GOP conference.
“We got more resources, more specificity, more power to go after this recalcitrant Biden administration,” Roy said.
Democrats worry the GOP could use such broad new powers, which appear to be on a collision course with longstanding Justice Department policy not to disclose information about ongoing criminal investigations, to disrupt probes into Jan. 6 and Trump’s handling of classified and sensitive government documents.
“Jim Jordan and Kevin McCarthy claim to be investigating the weaponization of the federal government when, in fact, this new select committee is the weapon itself,” New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.
“It is specifically designed to inject extremist politics into our justice system and shield the MAGA movement from the legal consequences of their actions,” Nadler contended, calling the effort a “reckless partisan exercise fueled by conspiracy theories.”
A spokesman for expected Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, didn’t respond to a request for comment on the panel’s aims and Democrats’ criticism.
While it’s not clear who GOP leaders will place on the subcommittee, it could include members who aren’t currently on the Judiciary Committee, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.
On Sunday, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., declined to recuse himself from serving on the panel, even though federal investigators seized his cell phone last summer as part of their work looking into Jan. 6 and the push to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
“Why should I be limited? Why should anybody be limited just because someone has made an accusation? Everybody in America is innocent until proven otherwise,” Perry told ABC This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos.
Roy said on Fox News that Republicans urged McCarthy and GOP leaders to give the panel “at least” as many resources as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi provided the Jan. 6 committee, which had dozens of staffers and spent millions of dollars.
But unlike the with the House’s Jan. 6 probe, expect the minority party to willingly participate: Democrats don’t plan to boycott the panel and its hearings, like Republicans did with the Jan. 6 select committee, a senior Democratic aide told ABC News.
(WASHINGTON) — The Biden administration last week announced a significant new crackdown on unauthorized migration at the border while opening new legal pathways for some people to enter the U.S
At issue once again is Title 42, a decades-old public health law that was first used by the Trump administration in the wake of COVID-19 to initiate restrictions on humanitarian protections and quickly expel migrants.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attempted last year to rescind the border expulsion order, a federal judge in Louisiana kept it in place — and then the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from mostly GOP-led states, stopping another federal judge’s ruling that Title 42 had to end in December.
The government under President Joe Biden has both defended and been critical of Title 42, but officials now say they must enforce it while the legal battles play out even as Biden said last week, “I don’t like Title 42.”
The plan announced last week will utilize Title 42 and other methods like the standard authority under Title 8 to send as many as 30,000 unauthorized Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to Mexico each month.
At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security is expanding a parole program to allow up to 30,000 migrants per month to seek asylum as long as they meet specific criteria. Applicants will need sponsorship in the U.S. and are required to pass background checks. Those who cross into the U.S. illegally will be disqualified.
“What we heard today was a major expansion of enforcement at the border but, at the same time, the creation of some legal pathways for people to come into the country lawfully and some ways of applying for an asylum appointment ahead of time as well,” said Andrew Selee, president of the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute.
Diplomatic tensions and logistical challenges have prevented the return of many Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to their home countries. The new agreement with Mexico will allow for more of them to be swiftly returned across the border as long as the Title 42 order remains in place, pending a Supreme Court decision. (Arguments before the court are scheduled for February.)
While the move was met with criticism from both sides of the political spectrum — Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., called it a “disastrous and inhumane relic” — Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that the immigration system is constrained by Congress’ inability to pass bigger changes.
The Department of Homeland Security intends to implement the newly announced migrant removal plan even if Title 42 ends, officials said Thursday.
However, some experts say using standard immigration processes to return non-Mexicans to Mexico could be difficult and will require full cooperation with the Mexican government — a topic that is likely to arise when Biden meets with Andrés Manuel López Obrador for a summit this week.
“It is going to be a little more complicated because Mexico would have to sign an actual agreement with the United States to take people back under Title 8, which was the regular way of returning people,” Selee, with the Migration Policy Institute, told ABC News. “But it is possible to do that.”
Mexico has opposed so-called “safe third country” agreements to take migrants in the past and was reluctant to cooperate even with admitting migrants temporarily under the “remain in Mexico” protocols begun under the Trump administration. But throughout the pandemic, Mexico has taken back some non-Mexican migrants, primarily from northern Central American countries.
The U.S. conducted nearly 345,000 expulsions of El Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Hondurans in fiscal year 2022. The vast majority were sent back to Mexico, one U.S. official said.
Small numbers of Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans had also been returned to Mexico prior to last week’s announcement, according to two U.S. officials.
Despite the potential diplomatic and legal complications that could prevent deportations, Mayorkas said Thursday that the administration intends to use standard immigration processing under Title 8 of U.S. law to return unauthorized Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans once Title 42 ends.
“The longevity of these programs is something that, of course, depends on what we are experiencing at the border and the dynamism, as I mentioned, of the migration challenge that is gripping this hemisphere — and quite frankly, the entire world,” Mayorkas said. “With respect to Mexico, Mexico makes its independent decisions with respect to the needs it must address through the mechanisms it has available to it.”
Immigrant advocates remain concerned that the Biden administration’s new plan will effectively result in an expansion of the Title 42 order for Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans, curtailing their access to asylum and other humanitarian protections due to the swift nature of the removal process.
Eleanor Acer, senior director Human Rights First, said the strategy signified a “doubling down on cruel and counterproductive policies” from the Trump administration.
“Every day that these policies are in place, people seeking refuge will be turned away to suffer horrific abuses,” Acer said in a statement. “This subversion of human rights and refugee law is a stain on the record of President Biden and his administration that will inflict indelible harm on human lives, human rights, and the refugee protection system globally.”
While the Trump administration did attempt to strong-arm Mexico into accepting more migrants, there are significant distinctions with the Biden administration’s approach, such as the pairing of parole options and a commitment to tripling refugee admissions from the Western Hemisphere over the next year.
“I think we have to see the details before we know — there are certainly echoes of what we saw during the Trump administration, even if it’s not exactly the same policy,” Selee said.
There are limited exceptions made for those who might be subjected to the Title 42 order, including those deemed “particularly vulnerable” by the Department of Homeland Security.
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden will visit the U.S.- Mexico border on Sunday, his first trip since taking office, with a stop in El Paso, Texas, before he arrives in Mexico City ahead of the North American leaders’ summit.
According to a White House official, Biden is expected to try to highlight El Paso as a model for what can be done with the immense task of migration management in the face of intense challenges the city has faced.
In the past month, El Paso has become an epicenter for the ongoing surge of people arriving to the U.S. in the south.
However, the number of migrants illegally crossing into El Paso is down more than 70% since the recent surge in December, the White House official said in a statement. Border Patrol in El Paso is also now making about 700 apprehensions a day on average, down from a peak of 2,500 in December, according to a source familiar with the data.
Since October, the number of illegal border crossings by Venezuelan migrants into El Paso has dropped to a quarter of what it was before the administration launched the first push in its latest border crackdown.
During his border trip Sunday, Biden is expected to assess the implementation of $600 million in improvements to El Paso’s busiest land border crossing, the Bridge of the Americas port of entry. He will then visit the El Paso County Migrant Services Center, which uses Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to support struggling migrants.
The White House official said the president will be joined on his trip by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas — whom Republicans have singled out for criticism, calling on Mayorkas to resign — and Biden will meet with local leaders and regional lawmakers, including Democratic Texas Reps. Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez Veronica Escobar; El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser; and El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego.
According to the White House schedule, Biden will arrive in El Paso in the afternoon and stay there for about three hours before departing to Mexico City for summit meetings on Monday and Tuesday.
Biden’s visit to Texas comes after an avalanche of GOP criticism focusing on what they cast as the president’s two-year delay in personally witnessing and addressing ongoing immigration.
“After almost two years in office, President Joe Biden has said he is finally going to visit our southern border. This checks a box, but it doesn’t even begin to solve the problems we are facing there,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., wrote in an op-ed Saturday.
“The president neglecting to visit the southern border—during a time when we are facing record illegal crossings and there is a clear crisis—would be the equivalent of our commander-in-chief not visiting the Pentagon during a military operation, not going to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) during the COVID-19 pandemic, or not assessing the damage after a natural disaster, just to name a few,” Capito wrote.
Mayorkas cast the issue another way in an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday.
‘We are dealing within a broken immigration system that Congress has failed to repair for decades,” he said, telling anchor George Stephanopoulos that he doesn’t intend to resign. “The world is dealing with the greatest displacement of people since World War II, in the Western Hemisphere. Our entire hemisphere is gripped with a migration challenge,” Mayorkas added.
Last week, the Biden administration announced a plan to expand border enforcement, including more expulsions of migrants, but also a new pathway to seek refuge in the United States.
On Thursday, Biden said he will admit 30,000 migrants each month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, but they would have to meet strict criteria including having a sponsor in the U.S.
He is also further restricting migrants from those same four countries who try to cross the border illegally, announcing his administration will expand policies to remove them under Title 42, a public health restriction, or through enhanced standard immigration processing.
Under this protocol, officials expect to send as many as 30,000 of the migrants back to Mexico each month.
Responding to these steps, the American Civil Liberties Union said that Biden’s actions “further ties his administration to the poisonous anti-immigrant policies of the Trump era instead of restoring fair access to asylum protections.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, also called Biden’s border enforcement plans as “nothing more than a band-aid for a historic flood.”
In announcing the immigration actions on Thursday, Biden tempered expectations by saying they “aren’t going to fix our entire immigration system” but would rather help manage a “difficult challenge.”
In the 2022 fiscal year, southwest border encounters reached 2,378,944, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data. The latest figures for fiscal year 2023 show that the El Paso sector alone has encountered 106,561 migrants. (Those figures can include one migrant who is encountered multiple times.)
Immigration has been a major source of GOP-fueled criticism for Biden since he took office.
It will also be one of the biggest points of discussion among Biden, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the summit in Mexico City.
Fentanyl trafficking, trade and economic development are also expected to be discussed.
White House spokesperson John Kirby said last week that Biden would meet one-on-one with López Obrador on Monday and have another one-on-one meeting with Trudeau on Tuesday before all three gather.
Cooperation with Mexico will be key for the Biden administration to manage migration along the southern border and an in-person meeting will give Biden an opportunity to convince López Obrador to accept more migrants from countries that block U.S. expulsions.
It’ll be the first time the three leaders meet together in person since November 2021, when Biden hosted a summit at the White House.
ABC News’ Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.
(WASHINGTON) — Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., would not commit on Sunday to recusing himself from a possible House GOP investigation of the Justice Department’s Jan. 6 investigation, even though federal investigators have looked at his role in the larger effort leading up to the insurrection and previously seized his cell phone.
“Why should I be limited? Why should anybody be limited just because someone has made an accusation? Everybody in America is innocent until proven otherwise,” Perry told ABC “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos.
“We’re gonna investigate, and we need to we need to make sure that that these agencies aren’t running amok and aren’t out of control, which clearly they are,” said Perry, the leader of the hard-right Freedom Caucus.
On Monday Republicans will vote to approve a package of rules governing the 118th House of Representatives that would establish a new panel to investigate what they call the “weaponization” of the federal government.
If approved, the rules package would give the special judiciary subcommittee broad authority to investigate how any part of the federal government gathers and analyzes information about Americans — including “ongoing criminal investigations.”
Democrats contend those provisions could be used to undermine sensitive law enforcement investigations, such as the one into former President Donald Trump and the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, in direct conflict with longstanding policy that the Justice Department does not share information with Congress related to ongoing criminal investigations.
The rules would also grant the special panel access to the same highly sensitive classified information provided only to the House Intelligence Committee.
Perry has said he believes election security was compromised in 2020 — despite no evidence of widespread fraud — and was in touch with like-minded allies of Trump in the run up to the insurrection. He’s said his phone was seized by the FBI in August but his attorney said the Department of Justice said he wasn’t a target of their investigation.
Perry sued to stop the DOJ from accessing the contents of his phone and separately refused a request for his records from the recently ended House Jan. 6 committee, but he met with the committee along with his attorney in November 2021 after being subpoenaed.
According to the Jan. 6 committee, Perry had played an “important role” in efforts to install former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark — who pushed questionable claims of election fraud — as acting attorney general amid Trump’s push to overturn the 2020 presidential results.
On “This Week,” Stephanopoulos pressed Perry on whether his hypothetical service on a new House panel would serve as a conflict of interest given Jan. 6 investigators’ interest in him.
Perry did not answer directly but suggested he didn’t see a problem.
“Should everybody in Congress that disagrees with somebody be barred from doing the oversight and investigative powers that Congress has? That’s our charge. And again, that’s appropriate for every single member, regardless of what accusations are made,” he said. “I get accused of all kinds of things every single day, as does every member that serves in the public eye.”
Perry, Barr on direction of House GOP
Perry appeared on “This Week” one day after helping elect Kevin McCarthy as House speaker — a historically contentious vote that took 15 rounds and saw McCarthy make a number of concessions to critics like Perry in order to win their vote.
Those changes — such as ensuring single-subject bills, making it easier to remove a sitting speaker and a focus on lowering spending — are intended to decentralize power in the chamber to increase the public’s representation, Perry argued.
“This was never about Kevin McCarthy. This is about power for the American people. And with all due respect, [former Democratic Speaker] Nancy Pelosi ran Congress like a prison camp with no accountability,” Perry said. “The American people are very, very tired of … just a few people in Washington, D.C., running all of the policy for the American people.”
Stephanopoulos asked if McCarthy had conceded certain terms around the country’s debt limit, which will need to be raised later this year to cover spending that was already approved — or risk defaulting, which would upend financial systems.
Perry declined to say whether McCarthy had promised to tie a debt ceiling increase to a balanced budget. But he said that “the American people are sick and tired of this endless debt increasing.”
Stephanopoulos followed up, noting President Joe Biden has said he won’t negotiate on that front. He asked if Perry was prepared to allow the country to default over a push for spending cuts.
Perry didn’t answer outright, instead saying he expects “everybody” to negotiate over the debt limit. “That’s what this is all about, so that all the voices of the American citizens are being heard, not just the voices that voted for President Biden or, quite honestly, not just the voices that voted for Kevin McCarthy or Scott Perry,” he said.
The protracted speakership battle in the House last week put a spotlight on the divisions in the Republican Party and raised questions about what McCarthy agreed to in order to win the gavel.
Appearing alongside Perry on “This Week,” McCarthy ally Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., told Stephanopoulos that he did not think McCarthy had shrunk his power, saying the rules changes would offer room for more debate.
“I understand the American people’s frustration with the delay in electing a speaker. Certainly, it’s going to be a challenge to have a conference full of independent thinkers with a thin majority,” Barr said. “But not only did the framers of our Constitution expect us to debate the operations of the House and the House rules and how we’re going to function, that’s what a healthy democracy actually requires.”
Barr said he felt the sometimes dramatic back-and-forth over speaker “was quite healthy from the standpoint of getting all of these issues resolved now, so that we can have a template going forward to come together as a conference.”
“We proved to ourselves, George, that we can, with perseverance and a lot of hard work and a never-give-up attitude, we can come together and unify to advance our agenda,” Barr said.
“I actually think this is going to strengthen us and not weaken us as a conference. It’s going to bring us together,” he said.
(WASHINGTON) — Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday rebuffed calls from leading Republicans to step aside — or risk impeachment — and underscored the critical nature of managing migration challenges “gripping” the Western Hemisphere.
In an interview with ABC “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos, Mayorkas said he has no plans of resigning.
Stephanopoulos cited this warning from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in November: “If Secretary Mayorkas does not resign, House Republicans will investigate. Every order, every action and every failure will determine whether we can begin impeachment inquiry.”
“I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Mayorkas told Stephanopoulos in response. “I’m proud to do it alongside 250,000 incredibly dedicated and talented individuals in the Department of Homeland Security, and I’m going to continue to do my work.”
Mayorkas added that while he has no intention of stepping down, he is ready for the investigations promised by the House GOP, whose lawmakers have been sharply critical of the Biden administration.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, last year accused Mayorkas of failing “to enforce immigration law and secure the border through all means necessary.”
On “This Week,” however, Mayorkas said there were larger forces at work, such as “a broken immigration system that Congress has failed to repair” and “the greatest displacement of people since World War II.”
As the secretary prepares to join Joe Biden on Biden’s first trip to the southern border as president, authorities there continue to take sweeping action to respond to the tens of thousands of migrants arriving each month.
“This is something that is not unique to the United States,” Mayorkas told Stephanopoulos. “It’s gripping the hemisphere and a regional challenge requires a regional solution.”
Last week, the Biden administration announced that in conjunction with the Mexican government, it expects to send as many as 30,000 unauthorized Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants to Mexico each month.
Stephanopoulos pressed Mayorkas on criticism from some Democrats that this move is similar to former President Donald Trump’s approach to the issue. New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez called it a “disastrous and inhumane relic of the Trump Administration’s racist immigration agenda.”
Mayorkas pointed to congressional inaction on immigration and other factors driving people to leave their countries for the U.S.
“We want individuals who qualify for relief under our laws to come to the United States in a safe and orderly way,” Mayorkas said. “And that is why we are building lawful pathways, so people do not have to place their lives and their life savings in the hands of ruthless smugglers.”
Mayorkas has traveled across Central and South America attempting to engage other governments in solutions to the massive intercontinental diaspora that has strained authorities at every level. More than 2.4 million Venezuelans are currently in Colombia, and other Latin America countries including Costa Rica and Ecuador continue to face “unprecedented migration challenges,” he said.
Responding to whether the administration can end the controversial Title 42 expulsion policy, which cuts access to humanitarian relief for those at the border, Mayorkas said that the federal government remains blocked by a federal court order in Louisiana. Separately, the Supreme Court in February will hear arguments on 19 states appealing to keep Title 42 in place after another federal judge ruled it had to end.
“We are continuing to apply Title 42 until the Supreme Court’s ruling,” Mayorkas said.
He went on to criticize Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been busing migrants elsewhere in the country in protest, Abbott has said, of the federal government’s “reckless” approach to immigration.
“We cannot have the rights and the needs of individuals who are seeing humanitarian relief in the United States be exploited for political purposes,” Mayorkas said. “We cannot have unilateral governor action that is not coordinated with the federal government to address an issue that is of national importance.”
Of Biden’s trip Sunday to the southern border, Mayorkas said he hopes to highlight the work his department is doing.
The White House will seek to show El Paso as a model for what can be done with migration management in the face of intense challenges that the city has faced in the past month.
The number of migrants illegally crossing into El Paso is down 70% since the recent surge in December, according to a White House official. Since October, the number of illegal border crossings by Venezuelan migrants into El Paso has dropped to a quarter of what it was before the administration launched the first edition of its latest border crackdown.
“I want him [the president] to see the extraordinary work of the men and women of the United States Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection’s field operations — how we have surged resources to address a challenge that is not unique to the southern border of the United States,” Mayorkas said. “It’s a challenge that is really gripping our entire hemisphere.”
(WASHINGTON) — The House Republican leadership standoff is stretching into a fourth day Friday after 11 failed votes so far to decide on a speaker over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is being stymied by a small group of hardliners. They are demanding concessions, to reshape how the House is run and legislation it prioritizes, or alternative candidates.
The House can conduct no other business — and members can’t be sworn in — until a speaker is chosen.
This is now the longest speaker election since 1859.
Here’s how the story is developing. All times Eastern:
Jan 07, 2:46 PM EST
What’s next for the House after McCarthy’s win
The House is adjourned until 5 p.m. Monday.
Members were advised by GOP Whip Tom Emmer’s office that the consideration of the rules package was postponed until Monday.
The rules package will outline how the chamber will run. A summary of the package released Friday included a key concession from McCarthy to his GOP detractors on the motion to vacate, allowing just one member to force a vote of no confidence to potentially oust the speaker.
McCarthy’s offer to his Republican opponents earlier this week included putting more House Freedom Caucus members on the influential House Rules Committee, and pledging votes on pieces of legislation that the caucus members have been pushing for, including a bill on term limits for lawmakers and a bill on border security.
Jan 07, 12:42 PM EST
McCarthy previews first actions of the new GOP-controlled House
Kevin McCarthy, just before swearing-in members, listed some of the priorities for the Republican majority in this 118th Congress.
The newly-elected House speaker said the very first bill Republicans will bring to the floor would repeal the billions of dollars in funding for additional Internal Revenue Service workers under the Inflation Reduction Act. Republicans assert the funding will result in the hiring of 87,000 agents to target middle-income families, which the Treasury Department has said isn’t the case.
He then laid out what Republicans will be investigating, stating “one of our first hearings will be held at the Southern border.”
He said to also expect committees to be formed to investigate how to win the economic competition with China, the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the origins of COVID-19.
“We will use the power of the purse and the power of the subpoena to get the job done,” he said.
More details on the party’s legislative agenda can be read here.
Jan 07, 11:53 AM EST
McCarthy credits Trump’s ‘influence’ after his speaker win
McCarthy told reporters early Saturday that it was the influence of former President Donald Trump that helped push the final holdouts over the finish line.
“I especially want to thank President Trump. I don’t think anybody should doubt his influence,” McCarthy said. “He was with me from the beginning … he was all in.”
“I was just talking to him tonight, helping get those final votes,” McCarthy said.
At one point during Friday’s session, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tried to hand her phone to Republican holdout Rep. Matt Rosendale with Trump presumably on the line. You can see “DT” as the caller on her phone.
But Trump’s enthusiastic vote of confidence in McCarthy earlier in the week appeared to be a non-factor as, despite his warning that failing to elect McCarthy would be a disaster, not a single holdout changed their vote until days later — and after McCarthy made several key concessions.
Jan 07, 11:06 AM EST
Most contentious speaker battle in over a century ends
The most contentious battle for House speaker in more than 160 years has officially come to an end.
Days after being called a “squatter” by some members of his own party — McCarthy now has his name across the House speaker’s office.
“I will work with anyone and everyone who shares our passion to deliver a better future for our nation,” McCarthy pledged as he received the gavel early Saturday morning. “As a Congress, we can only operate if we cooperate. My door will be open. I’d like you to come by.”
-ABC News’ Rachel Scott
Jan 07, 1:43 AM EST
McCarthy takes oath of office, tells members ‘I never give up’
“I may not know all of you, some of you are new,” McCarthy said as he wrapped up his remarks. “But I hope one thing is clear after this week: I never give up.”
“I make this promise, I’ll never give up on you the American people,” he added.
McCarthy then took his oath of office and is now the 55th speaker of the House of Representatives.
Jan 07, 1:29 AM EST
McCarthy after receiving the gavel: ‘Now the hard work begins’
“That was easy, huh?” McCarthy joked as he received the speaker’s gavel from Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. “I never thought we’d get up here.”
As he listed his priorities for the 118th Congress, McCarthy said it was time for the Republican majority to be a check and provide a balance to President Joe Biden’s policies.
“And now the hard work begins,” he said. “What we do here today, next week, next month, next year will set the tone for everything that follows.”
Jan 07, 1:16 AM EST
Jeffries hands McCarthy the speaker’s gavel
At approximately 1:15 a.m. Saturday, McCarthy was handed the speaker’s gavel from Democratic caucus leader Hakeem Jeffries.
But before Jeffries turned it over to McCarthy, he ran through a list of Democratic accomplishments over the past two years and gave a final nod to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“Pelosi will go down in history as the greatest speaker of all time,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries said this is a moment of “transition” for Congress, from a “year of accomplishment to a year of ambiguity.”
“But we do extend our hand of partnership to you,” he said.
Jan 07, 1:01 AM EST
Biden congratulates McCarthy, says he’s prepared to work with GOP
The White House has put out a statement from President Joe Biden, in which he and first lady Jill Biden congratulated McCarthy.
“The American people expect their leaders to govern in a way that puts their needs above all else, and that is what we need to do now,” Biden said.
“As I said after the midterms, I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can and voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well,” he continued. “Now that the leadership of the House of Representatives has been decided it is time for that process to begin.”
Biden said it’s “imperative” the nation continues to make economic progress, protect Social Security and Medicare benefits and defend national security.
“As the last two years show, we can do profound things for the country when we do them together,” Biden said.
Jan 07, 12:53 AM EST
McCarthy’s reaction after win: ‘Glad it’s over’
McCarthy’s first words stepping off the House floor after clinching the speakership: “Glad it’s over.”
McCarthy also said “no one gets promised anything” when asked if he promised Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a subcommittee gavel.
Gaetz blocked McCarthy from winning in the 14th round, much to the frustration of the caucus, but changed his vote to “present” in the 15th and final ballot.
-ABC News’ Will Steakin and Lauren Peller
Jan 07, 12:40 AM EST
McCarthy finally wins speakership, ending gridlock in the House
McCarthy has finally won the speakership after receiving 216 votes.
Republicans erupted into applause and cheers as the victory became apparent around 12:30 a.m.
McCarthy consistently had the most votes of any Republican but was stymied all week by a small but influential group of GOP rebels who opposed his bid.
The California Republican offered a slate of concessions to pave his pathway, including lowering the threshold of support needed to trigger a vote to remove a speaker to just one lawmaker.
Six of the final GOP holdouts voted “present” in the last round, clearing the way for McCarthy to get to a majority.
Lasting 15 rounds and four days, the vote counting took a historic amount of time and was the longest process to name a speaker since before the Civil War.
The process prevented the House from conducting any business, including considering bills, forming committees and even swearing in lawmakers, which put staff pay, meetings with intelligence officials and more at risk. With a speaker now elected, House business can move forward.
Jan 07, 12:08 AM EST
McCarthy appears to win House speaker after historic 15 rounds
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy appeared to have finally won the speakership after 15 rounds of voting and a years-long personal quest, a win that would allow the chamber to finally swear in lawmakers and legislate.
Jan 06, 11:56 PM EST
House moves to 15th vote for speaker
The House is voting again to elect a speaker.
Republicans moved to adjourn until Monday after McCarthy fell one vote shy in the 14th round. Rep.-elect Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., introduced the motion but it failed 155-279 — with several Republicans changing their vote halfway through.
McCarthy clearly thinks he now has the votes.
“Everybody take a seat, let’s go one more time!” McCarthy said.
Arkansas Republican Bruce Westerman rose to nominate McCarthy, saying “the eyes of the world, the eyes of America are on this body right now.”
Jan 06, 11:37 PM EST
Heated moment in the chamber as McCarthy loses speaker vote
The atmosphere in the chamber turned heated when McCarthy was denied the speakership again, this time by just one vote.
Mike Rogers, R-Ala., moved toward Rep. Matt Gaetz after he voted “present” — ultimately sinking McCarthy’s chance of getting a majority of votes needed. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., covered his mouth and pulled him away.
McCarthy himself appeared caught off guard. When Gaetz voted “present,” McCarthy mouthed “we don’t win.”
It sucked the air out of the room.
One Democrat member yelled “s***.” Others groaned or gasped. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the incoming Democratic caucus leader, said “just another day at the park.”
The House is now voting on a motion to adjourn until noon Monday.
–ABC News’ Rachel Scott
Jan 06, 11:30 PM EST
Matt Gaetz casts deciding vote to sink McCarthy chance at win
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., sealed McCarthy’s fate on Friday as he voted “present” in the 14th round, leaving the California congressman one vote short of winning the gavel.
Gaetz missed the first roll call, making him one of the final members to vote.
Gaetz has led the opposition to McCarthy’s bid these past few days, nominating GOP alternatives such as Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio or even former President Donald Trump.
“This has never been about me or Kevin McCarthy. It’s about the American people,” Gaetz tweeted before his vote. “America wants to know that the rules of the House of Reps would never allow something like this horrendous omnibus bill to ever pass ever again.”
Jan 06, 11:18 PM EST
McCarthy falls one vote shy of winning gavel on 14th round
McCarthy fell just one vote shy of winning the speakership in a late-night vote on Friday.
The GOP leader received 216 votes. He needed 217 to have a majority of the 432 votes cast.
None of the six remaining holdouts flipped to McCarthy. Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep Lauren Boebert — two of his Republican defectors — voted “present.” Two of his opponents voted for Rep. Jim Jordan and two voted for Rep. Andy Biggs.
Jan 06, 10:26 PM EST
Aguilar criticizes GOP over Jan. 6 as he nominates Jeffries
Rep.-elect Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., criticized his colleagues on the other side of the aisle over the Jan. 6 attack as he nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for speaker.
“If we are forced to be here this evening, because of the chaos and crisis on the other side, it’s only fair to point out Madam Clerk that the same individuals who fanned the flames of Jan. 6, who told their followers and their followers followers that they needed to fight back and who challenged the swearing-in of members based on a bogus claim of fake electors may well be in charge of the People’s House if they can ever agree on who could lead them.”
Aguilar’s remarks drew dissent from Republicans.
“That’s why House Democrats stand united behind Hakeem Jeffries. Hakeem Jeffries is the only candidate in this race for speaker who will defend democracy,” Aguilar said.
Voting is now underway.
Jan 06, 10:17 PM EST
McHenry nominates McCarthy for speaker
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., nominated McCarthy for speaker, prompting sustained applause from the Republican caucus.
“I want to start by thanking the men and women who make this House run,” McHenry said. “From the janitorial staff, to the parliamentarians, to the doorkeepers, to the sergeant at arms, to the Capitol Police officers, to the men and women who make this institution run, thank you.”
The remarks received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle.
McHenry went on to address the party’s struggles in swiftly electing a speaker, stating, “We know it’s messy but open and transparent debate sets us apart from authoritarian regimes.”
Jan 06, 10:09 PM EST
House gavels back in for 14th speaker vote
House Clerk Cheryl Johnson gaveled in the chamber just after 10 p.m.
Members were starting a 14th vote for a speaker. Republican leader McCarthy said he’s confident he will have the support tonight to clinch the speaker’s gavel.
Fifteen Republican holdouts flipped for McCarthy this afternoon after days of stalemate in the speakership battle. He will need more of his opponents to switch their stances or vote “present” tonight in order to win.
Former President Donald Trump spent the day calling the Republican holdouts, including the remaining six defectors, in hopes of getting them to flip their votes to McCarthy, sources familiar with the calls told ABC News. But Trump’s endorsement of McCarthy earlier this week was essentially a non-factor.
Jan 06, 4:30 PM EST
‘We’ll have the votes and finish this once and for all,’ McCarthy says
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy seems all but certain that he has the votes to push this over the finish line tonight.
“I’ll have the votes,” McCarthy said as he headed off the House floor after the chamber adjourned until 10 p.m.
“We’ll come back tonight, and I believe at that time we’ll have the votes and finish this once and for all,” he said.
McCarthy attempted to portray the drawn-out negotiations and multiple ballots — the most since before the Civil War — as a positive thing. “This is the great part,” he said. “Because it took so long now we learned how to govern.”
But to be clear, this is still a bit of a numbers game and McCarthy doesn’t have the votes yet.
He still needs to flip votes. If there are zero absences , McCarthy would need to flip two of the six remaining holdouts: Reps.-elect Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Eli Crane, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good and Matt Rosendale.
But there are other paths to the speakership, again assuming no absences when members reconvene: Either one flips of remaining holdouts; one flip and one (or more) “present” votes; if no flips, three or more “present: votes.
Asked by ABC News what he says to those who think he’s giving up too much to a small percentage of his conference, McCarthy argued that it was actually the whole conference that came together on these reforms.
“The whole conference worked on these reforms. These reforms are actually very good. It empowers the members,” he said.
–ABC News Katherine Faulders, Lauren Peller, Will Steakin and Ben Siegel
Jan 06, 2:50 PM EST
One more Republican flips, McCarthy still short
Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland appears to be the only remaining holdout Republican to flip his vote for McCarthy so far in the 13th round of voting, signaling more momentum for McCarthy but not enough to win the speakership.
While no other Republican was formally nominated this round, five voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Bob Good, R-Va., Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., and Rep.-elect Eli Crane remain in the “Never Kevin” crowd.
Jan 06, 1:33 PM EST
McCarthy flips 14 GOP holdouts but still falls short of speaker’s gavel
Fourteen of the Republicans who’d been opposing McCarthy’s bid switched their stance in the 12th round of voting.
But it wasn’t enough for him to clinch the speaker’s gavel. McCarthy received 213 votes, still short of the majority needed.
He gained support from Reps.-elect Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Michael Cloud of Texas, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Byron Donalds of Florida, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Mary Miller of Illinois, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Chip Roy of Texas, Keith Self of Texas, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, Paul Gosar of Arizona and Andrew Ogles of Tennessee.
Perry, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, cited a “framework for an agreement” as he explained his shift in a Twitter post.
“We’re at a turning point,” Perry wrote.
The flips follow a key concession from McCarthy to make it even easier to remove him as speaker if he is elected. Under the deal, a single member from either party could trigger an up-or-down simple majority vote on whether to remove the speaker.
Jan 06, 1:05 PM EST
Several Republican holdouts flip to McCarthy
In Friday’s first round of voting — the 12th round overall this week — several of the Republicans who’d been opposing McCarthy’s bid switched their stance.
But it remains unclear whether McCarthy will gain enough support to clinch the gavel. The vote is ongoing.
Jan 06, 12:46 PM EST
Republicans exit chamber as Gaetz calls McCarthy bid an ‘exercise in vanity’
Responding to Rep. Mike Garcia saying McCarthy has “earned this position,” Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, blasted the bid as “an exercise in vanity” and cast McCarthy as “the LeBron James of special interest fundraising in this town.”
“You only earn the position of speaker of the House if you can get the votes. Mr. McCarthy doesn’t have the votes,” Gaetz said. “He will not have the votes — and he will not have the votes next week, next month, next year — ad so one must wonder, madam clerk, is this an exercise in vanity for someone who has done the math, taken the counts, and is putting this institution threw something that absolutely is avoidable?”
Gaetz also drew colleagues that support McCarthy into his attack, prompting Rep.-elect Mike Bost of Illinois to shout at Gaetz, making the case that he wasn’t gaining any traction in the debate. Several Republicans then left the chamber while Gaetz continued his nominating speech.
“They believe that Mr. McCarthy has earned the position of speaker of the house because he raised half a billion dollars to get Republicans elected,” Gaetz said, as he was interrupted and members walked out.
“Selflessness is not selling shares of yourself to the lobbying core and then doing their bidding at the expense of the American people,” Gaetz said. “But there certainly is intent. It’s an intent driven almost exclusively by personal ambition, and that ambition is paralyzing the house now.”
He ultimately nominated Rep. Jim Jordan, who is supporting McCarthy’s bid.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo, also in the “Never Kevin” camp, went on to nominate Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., once again.
Jan 06, 12:32 PM EST
Clyburn invokes Jan. 6 while nominating Jeffries: ‘Our resolve was tested’
Rep.-elect Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., took time to recognize Friday’s second anniversary of the U.S. Capitol attack as he nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., for speaker.
“This body has a unique role in this government,” Clyburn said. “What we do and how we do it will determine whether our pursuit toward a more perfect union can continue in earnest. No day in recent history underscores the importance of that pursuit more than Jan. 6. Exactly two years ago today, our resolve was tested when a violent mob of insurrectionists attacked our Capitol, threatened the integrity of this democracy, and undermined our Constitution. The greatness of this country and the resiliency of our democracy were put at peril. But we survived.”
Clyburn said Democrats are “offering the people of America a good man who has the best interests of the American people at heart.”
Jan 06, 12:30 PM EST
McCarthy nominated in 12th speaker vote
For a 12th time, McCarthy was nominated to become House speaker, this time by fellow California Republican Rep.-elect Mike Garcia, who said Republicans are “on the verge of a very important victory.”
“This isn’t about Kevin McCarthy,” Garcia said. “The matters before us are of stupendous magnitude. A federal republic such as ours, it’s a dynamically unstable one. It’s a wobbly top that’s just a few mere revolutions away from falling down at any given moment except for the exertions of men and women who are willing to serve her with pure and selfless intent.”
“We must be victorious in this cause, and victory begins with allowing this body to get to work. It begins today,” he continued. “We don’t hold the majority for bragging rights. We hold the majority to govern responsibly.”
Garcia drew boos from Democrats when he mentioned an end to proxy voting, implying they overused the option, though Republicans exercised proxy voting during the pandemic, as well.
“It dawns on me, as I look across the aisle after being here for nearly three years, that I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting many of you because you’ve chosen to stay home and not vote here in person and electing instead to proxy vote,” Garcia said. “It’s a pleasure to see 212 of you here today.”
Jan 06, 11:40 AM EST
McCarthy promises to ‘shock’ in 4th day without House electing speaker
Despite his record-busting 11 failed speaker votes looming large, McCarthy entered the Capitol this morning showing confidence.
Peppered with questions about whether his recent offer to Republican hardliners who oppose him would be enough to secure his gavel, McCarthy said he wasn’t sure if today would yet be the day, but said, “We’re going to make progress,” adding, “We are going to shock you.”
But he also noted that there will likely be member attendance issues Friday and over the weekend as some lawmakers have already left in Washington.
“I don’t know if we can get there today, but we’re going to make progress,” McCarthy said.
Jan 06, 11:22 AM EST
No speaker deal yet, McCarthy tells members on GOP call
During a conference call this morning with the Republican conference, McCarthy told members that there’s not officially a deal to vote him speaker, but said he believes they’re “in a good position” and working in “good faith.”
“I’m not telling you we have an agreement,” McCarthy said on the call, according to multiple sources. “We’re in a good position and having meetings.”
McCarthy ally, Patrick McHenry, said on the call that no gavels for committee chairmanships have been promised during their talks.
McCarthy, again, said on this call that he has agreed to offer a key concession: making it even easier to remove him as speaker if he is elected. So, a single member, from either party, can trigger an up-or-down simple majority vote on whether to remove the speaker.
But still, after failing 11 times, the math still doesn’t appear to be in McCarthy’s favor. And there could be votes over the weekend.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a pro-McCarthy ally, told ABC News that the next phase of working on the handful of hard no’s will involve more isolated discussions with those who have concerns beyond just personal issues.
“It’s not a monolithic group. Each one of them have different concerns. Some, it’s motion to vacate, some, it’s guardrails around the budget. But when you shrink that group down, you’re able to have one-on-one conversations as to what does it take for them to get to yes, if anything,” Fitzpatrick said.
Jan 06, 11:14 AM EST
Jan. 6 anniversary highlights election deniers blocking McCarthy
The vast majority of the Republicans blocking McCarthy’s speaker bid have given life to the so-called “big lie” in the two years since the Capitol attack.
Of the 15 incumbents in the flank rejecting McCarthy, 14 challenged the results of the 2020 election two years ago.
Just two of the 20, which includes five freshmen, acknowledge the legitimacy of the 2020 election: Chip Roy of Texas and Rep.-elect Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma.
The small but significant group appears on the verge now of taking the reins of power in Washington by using their leverage against McCarthy, who himself has a tortured relationship with Jan. 6 and the 2020 election.
McCarthy was one of 147 House Republicans to reject its certification ahead of a floor speech deeming Trump “bears responsibility” for the “mob attack.”
Jan 06, 10:28 AM EST
House Republican slams GOP hardliners ‘holding us hostage’
With all other House business put on hold, Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska has continued to voice frustration with the small but significant flank of his party refusing to support McCarthy’s speaker bid.
“Our constituents call me and they want help with passports, visas, disability claims with the VA, and all that’s on hold — and that’s because of these 20 people who are holding us hostage,” Bacon told ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott.
Bacon, who serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Armed Services, said he was also forced to cancel a classified briefing this week because he lost his security clearance.
Jan 06, 9:17 AM EST
McCarthy’s quest enters 4th day after 11 failed speaker votes
With the House set to reconvene at noon, McCarthy’s quest for the House speakership enters a fourth day Friday following 11 failed attempts this week.
It’s unclear if Republicans will attempt to adjourn the House until next week, providing more time for negotiations, or if the House will immediately enter additional rounds of votes.
As this becomes the longest speaker race since before the Civil War, the California Republican has downplayed the prolonged process, saying late Thursday, “It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish.”
All House business remains at a standstill until a speaker is elected — a fact Democrats have criticized.
“As we mark a day that threatened our Democracy, let us show our respect for the great institution of the Congress,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted, noting the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack. “We must open the House and proceed with the People’s work.”
Jan 06, 12:07 AM EST
Kevin McCarthy to ABC News: ‘It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish’
It’s the question that’s top of mind for everyone on Capitol Hill: How long will this drag out?
“I’d love to know… but we’re working through it, we made good progress today, so we’ll continue to talk,” leader McCarthy told ABC News Thursday night, also saying: “I’m not putting any timeline, I just think we’ve got some progress going on, we’ve got members talking. I think we’ve got a little movement. So we’ll see.”
Sources tell ABC News that McCarthy is inching closer to a deal that could earn the support of at least 12 more Republicans. But he can only lose the support of four members from his own party.
McCarthy said he’s willing to drag it out for as long as it takes.
“I’m not putting any timeline, I just think we’ve got some progress going on, we’ve got members talking,” he said. “I think we’ve got a little movement. So we’ll see.”
He insisted he wouldn’t be a “weaker speaker” if he were to be elected because of the concessions he has made.
“We have a five-seat majority. So, it’s not one side is going to get more than the other, it’s the entire conference is going to have to learn how to work together,” McCarthy said. “So, it’s better that we go through this process right now so we can achieve the things we want to achieve for the American public, what our commitment was.”
“So, if this takes a little longer, and it doesn’t meet your deadline, that’s OK. Because it’s not it’s not how you start. It’s how you finish, and if we finish well, we’ll be very successful,” he added.
-ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Katherine Faulders and Allie Pecorin
Jan 05, 9:52 PM EST
House committee staffers could miss paychecks without a speaker
A memo sent to prospective House committees on Thursday night outlined some of the impact the prolonged speaker fight could have on Capitol Hill if it continues to drag out.
The guidance obtained by ABC News states that if the House hasn’t adopted a rules package, which outlines how the chamber runs, committees’ payroll payments and student loan repayments would be impacted.
“Committees need to be aware that should a House Rules package not be adopted by end of business on January 13 payroll will not be processed for any committee staff since the committee’s authority for the new Congress is not yet confirmed,” the memo, sent by the House’s chief administrative officer, states.
The memo also notes that House employees who are enrolled in a student loan forgiveness program may be impacted: “Committees need to be aware that should a House Rules package not be adopted by end of business on January 13 no committee will be able to process student loan payments since the committee’s authority for the new Congress is not yet confirmed.”
The House cannot conduct normal business until a speaker is selected, including adopting rules. Possibly further complicating the timeline, sources tell ABC News that a potential new package currently being worked on will include a mandatory 72-hour review time for bills ahead of any votes, which would include the vote on the rules package.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin
Jan 05, 9:52 PM EST
Trump suffers lopsided political defeat after being nominated as speaker
Donald Trump was formally nominated for House speaker on Thursday — and the former president went on to win only one vote in the most recent round of the ongoing contest.
The 11th round of the speaker votes resulted in Trump’s most lopsided defeat of his political career, losing 200-13-6-1 (among Republicans), not to mention 212 Democrats who voted against him.
The math works out to only 0.45% of the House Republican conference voting for Trump for speaker. For his part, he has endorsed GOP leader McCarthy, who has so far been unsuccessful in persuading a minority of his party to back him.
Trump’s lone vote? Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
-ABC News’ John Parkinson
Jan 05, 8:20 PM EST
House adjourns after 3 days of failed votes
House Republicans successfully, though narrowly, voted on Thursday night to adjourn until noon on Friday following another day of unsuccessfully trying to choose a speaker.
Talks are ongoing between leader McCarthy and his critics. But the five rounds of votes on Thursday repeatedly showed the same results as Tuesday and Wednesday: McCarthy is opposed by 20 members of his party, depriving him of the gavel.
The vote to adjourn ’til Friday was 219-213, with Democrats and one Republican opposed.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Jan 05, 8:25 PM EST
McCarthy critics insist impasse is ‘healthy’
Several critics of McCarthy are insisting that their opposition is sparking worthwhile debate on the floor.
“I think it’s incredibly healthy, actually, for the American people to see that we’re on the floor,” said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who has sought to block McCarthy’s path to the speakership and nominated Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., to hold the gavel.
Several more junior lawmakers lamented the lack of debate on legislation on the House floor and said the conversations over the speakership marked a drastic uptick in the amount of back-and-forth in the chamber.
“We have had more discussion and debate over the last three days than I have participated in on this floor for the last two years,” said Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., who also nominated Donalds. “And it’s healthy. It absolutely promotes the collegiality that everyone is striving to obtain.”
Jan 05, 7:59 PM EST
Republicans attempt to adjourn until Friday
Following another failed vote for speaker, at the end of the third day of deliberations, Republicans moved to adjourn the House until noon on Friday.
Democrats vocally opposed the motion, leading every lawmaker to have to cast an electronic ballot.
The vote is ongoing.
ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Jan 05, 7:54 PM EST
McCarthy loses 11th round of voting
McCarthy on Thursday night lost the 11th round of voting for House speaker, with little proven progress despite rumors of a coming agreement with his critics.
McCarthy won 200 votes, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York won 212. 12 Republicans voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and seven more voted for Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., voted for former President Donald Trump, and Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted “present.”
Given that no person clinched an outright majority of votes, a speaker was not elected.
Jan 05, 6:14 PM EST
McCarthy loses 10th round of voting
In a repeat of the previous nine rounds since Tuesday, McCarthy on Thursday lost the 10th round of voting, extending his streak of defeats as his party failed to choose a speaker.
McCarthy won 200 votes, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York won 212. Thirteen Republicans voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a protest candidate against McCarthy, and seven more voted for Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., who is backing McCarthy himself despite this.
Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., again voted “present.”
These tallies were essentially unchanged from every other round of voting.
It’s unclear if Republicans will try to adjourn after the vote is tallied, though talks between McCarthy and his critics are expected to continue.
Jan 05, 5:42 PM EST
Movement possible between McCarthy, critics — but real obstacles remain
With the speaker vote already at 10 historic rounds and counting, there are some early signs of movement toward a potential deal on a rules package between McCarthy and some of his detractors currently blocking him from the gavel.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., a top McCarthy ally, said off the House floor to “stay tuned” and that the public should “see some movement in the next 24 hours or so” toward a potential deal regarding a rules package. That has been a sticking point for many of the McCarthy holdouts who want rules that would shrink the overall power of the speaker — and, in this view, increase the influence of other members and change the priorities of the GOP.
Fitzpatrick added, however, that, “We’re gonna be missing some numbers for medical issues and whatnot” on Friday.
That is another complicated issue facing McCarthy that may push the speaker vote to next week, given at least four members voting for McCarthy have to leave town for medical issues and family matters, according to sources.
Meanwhile, some of the most vocal McCarthy opponents have gone silent when asked for updates on progress — often a sign on Capitol Hill that a deal could be in the works.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a current no on McCarthy who has been in deep conversations with him and his team, has been mostly mum in the building, only saying that they are trying to work things out.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin
Jan 05, 5:45 PM EST
Lauren Boebert nominates Kevin Hern
Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert nominated her colleague from Oklahoma, Rep. Kevin Hern, for speaker.
Speaking to her GOP colleagues, Boebert said “it’s time to build momentum” around a different candidate.
“Many of you have said it. You see that Kevin McCarthy does not have the votes,” she said.
Boebert and Oklahoma’s new Rep.-elect Josh Brecheen voted for Hern in the previous round. Hern was first elected to the House in 2018 and has served on the House Ways and Means Committee. He currently chairs the Republican Study Committee.
Jan 05, 4:44 PM EST
McCarthy losses continue to pile up
McCarthy lost in the ninth round of voting, as he continues to remain stagnant with an insufficient amount of support.
Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries again netted 212 votes as his entire caucus rallied around him. The GOP alternatives to McCarthy — Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Kevin Hern, R-Okla. — earned 17 votes and three votes, respectively.
McCarthy lost one vote from prior rounds as supporter Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., did not vote though it was unclear why.
Indiana Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz again voted present.
For the first time since 1859, before the Civil War, at least a 10th round of voting is needed to elect a speaker of the House.
Jan 05, 2:59 PM EST
McCarthy loses again in 8th round of voting
McCarthy has suffered yet another defeat.
The California congressman received 201 votes in the eighth round, matching other recent rounds. Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York won 212 votes and Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, the GOP nominee put up against McCarthy, won 17 votes.
This round, there was another Kevin — Republican Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma — who received votes.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Rep.-elect Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., voted for Hern, who hadn’t previously been mentioned for speaker. Hern has served in the House for four years and has been backing McCarthy for speaker.
For a second time today, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., voted for former President Donald Trump. Indiana Republican Victoria Spartz again voted present.
Jan 05, 2:18 PM EST
Nominations read out for 8th round of voting
The eighth round of speaker voting began on Thursday after Kevin McCarthy, Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Byron Donalds, R-Fla., were again nominated.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., put for McCarthy as speaker favored by a majority of the GOP conference, saying he would be different from past Republican speakers and mentioning several of the Californian’s critics by name.
“I vouched to my community that Kevin will do as he has promised. He will give us the opportunity to right to course,” Mast said.
Rep. Kathleen Clark, D-Mass., nominated Jeffries, the Democratic leader, while panning Republican opposition to policies on guns, insulin costs and more.
“This intraparty fight that the American people have been drawn into is imperiling our national security. It will imperil the ability of this government to deliver basic services. It is imperiling our jobs and our responsibility to serve our constituents. But it is also entirely predictable. They’re failing to convene Congress today, but for years they have failed to deliver their votes for the American people,” Clark said.
And Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who nominated Donalds, the GOP protest nominee against McCarthy, said it was necessary to change Congress’ leadership in order to change policies.
“They want something new. They want something different. And we are on a path that just continues. Where were we just 12 years ago? An $11 trillion national debt. Where are we now? Almost three times that. Both parties share blame in that. We have to bring that under control. You bring that under control not just by changing the rules of an institution but by changing the leadership,” Biggs said.
“I believe if you want to make change, you have to make change. Maintaining the status quo is not an option today.”
Jan 05, 2:18 PM EST
Nominations read out for 8th round of voting
The eighth round of speaker voting began on Thursday after Kevin McCarthy, Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Byron Donalds, R-Fla., were again nominated.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., put for McCarthy as speaker favored by a majority of the GOP conference, saying he would be different from past Republican speakers and mentioning several of the Californian’s critics by name.
“I vouched to my community that Kevin will do as he has promised. He will give us the opportunity to right to course,” Mast said.
Rep. Kathleen Clark, D-Mass., nominated Jeffries, the Democratic leader, while panning Republican opposition to policies on guns, insulin costs and more.
“This intraparty fight that the American people have been drawn into is imperiling our national security. It will imperil the ability of this government to deliver basic services. It is imperiling our jobs and our responsibility to serve our constituents. But it is also entirely predictable. They’re failing to convene Congress today, but for years they have failed to deliver their votes for the American people,” Clark said.
And Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who nominated Donalds, the GOP protest nominee against McCarthy, said it was necessary to change Congress’ leadership in order to change policies.
“They want something new. They want something different. And we are on a path that just continues. Where were we just 12 years ago? An $11 trillion national debt. Where are we now? Almost three times that. Both parties share blame in that. We have to bring that under control. You bring that under control not just by changing the rules of an institution but by changing the leadership,” Biggs said.
“I believe if you want to make change, you have to make change. Maintaining the status quo is not an option today.”
Jan 05, 1:50 PM EST
McCarthy tells ABC he’s ‘confident’ solution will come as he faces another defeat
As he barreled toward a seventh defeat on Thursday, McCarthy told ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott that he was still confident his party would get to a solution to the historic stalemate over speaker. But he insisted he doesn’t “pick the day.”
Scott pressed McCarthy on whether the concessions he made to his opponents were enough.
“Concessions,” he laughed with a smirk.
“I think we’re having good discussions. I think everybody wants to find a solution. And the good thing about it is we worked this all out at the beginning, so the rest of the Congress will be very productive for the American public,” he said.
When asked if he was confident he would get the votes he needed on Thursday, McCarthy responded: “Look, I don’t pick the day. I’m confident we’ll get to the solution. Otherwise, we won’t be successful. So I think everybody, of the members I’ve talked to, have been very productive. They’ve been productive in their discussions, their ideas, and I just feel in these meetings the attitudes of everyone is they want to find a solution. And that’s positive. So I think we’ll get there.”
Pressed on how to convince his critics who don’t trust him to vote for him, McCarthy laughed again.
“Everybody builds trust,” he said.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said he expects another round of voting on Thursday.
-with ABC News’ Katherine Faulders, Gabe Ferris and Allison Pecorin
Jan 05, 1:44 PM EST
McCarthy loses 7th round, Gaetz votes for Trump
McCarthy on Thursday lost another election for speaker, failing to pick up any votes despite making new concessions to the conservative GOP rebels opposing his bid.
McCarthy received 201 votes in the seventh round — the same number he received in the three votes held on Wednesday.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., again saw the most support with 212 votes from the Democratic caucus. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., received 19 votes as the GOP’s protest nominee against McCarthy.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a leading opponent of McCarthy, voted for Donald Trump for House speaker. This is the first time Trump has received a vote. The former president, weighing in on the speaker battle, has thrown his support behind McCarthy.
One lawmaker, Indiana Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz, voted present.
Jan 05, 12:38 PM EST
7th round of voting underway
Members are currently voting for a seventh time to elect a speaker of the House.
The matchup is the same as the previous three rounds: McCarthy is facing Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Rep. Byron Donalds.
The results will show whether McCarthy’s gained any support after offering new concessions to his critics.
“People ask me, ‘What is the end game? How does this end?’ The answer to this question is that this is a dynamic process. All of the decisions on this floor result from the coming together of minds, one way or another,” Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., said as he nominated Donalds. “This is the people’s business. We will resolve the people’s business.”
Jan 05, 12:34 PM EST
Freshman John James nominates Kevin McCarthy for speaker
Freshman Rep. John James, D-Mich., nominated House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Calif., for speaker as the third day of voting got underway.
James compared the vote to that of 1856, when it took months to elect a speaker — but boasted that McCarthy would emerge victorious.
“The leading Republican nominee won then, and the leading Republican nominee will win again today,” he said.
James conceded that “we’re stuck at a malaise, at an impasse, and we will stay here,” but insisted that McCarthy deserved the speakership after Republicans won the House majority.
“You don’t fire a guy who’s winning,” he said, before urging Republicans to accept the victory.
“We need to learn how to win.”
Jan 05, 9:27 AM EST
McCarthy makes new offer to defectors amid speakership showdown
There is now an offer on the table from McCarthy to the small but influential group of hard-line conservatives opposing his bid for speaker, sources familiar with discussions told ABC News.
The Republican leader, who has now notched six successive losses for speaker, has proposed a new round of key concessions that includes making it easier for members to remove him as speaker.
McCarthy’s offer, if approved by the full GOP conference on the floor in the rules package, would make it so a single member from either party could trigger an up-or-down simple majority vote on whether to oust the speaker. This is down from the threshold of five members McCarthy initially agreed to.
It’s unclear if the offer will make a difference, as some hard-line conservatives are digging in against McCarthy. The House is set to reconvene at noon today.
He’s also offered to put more members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus on the House Rules Committee and votes on legislation his opponents have been pushing for, including term limits for members of Congress and border security.
The group of conservative rebels who’ve opposed him are meeting this morning to consider the offer and plot their strategy going forward.
Jan 04, 9:38 PM EST
McCarthy sounds undeterred: ‘We talk until we get this done’
Leaving the chamber after it adjourned for the night on Wednesday, McCarthy — surrounded by a phalanx of security and a mob of reporters — initially joked and razzed a reporter he’s known for more than a decade. He seemingly celebrated a razor-thin GOP vote to adjourn the chamber after another day of unsuccessful attempts to elect him speaker.
He also said “continual votes,” like they been having since Tuesday, are unproductive, instead touting the evening’s closed-door talks as the way forward.
McCarthy asked the reporter, John Bresnahan, “Club for Growth — is that movement for you? You just saw a vote on the floor that the conference voted together on?”
McCarthy was referring to a newly announced deal between a political action committee aligned with him and Club for Growth, another major conservative group.
Bresnahan jokingly replied of the successful adjournment vote, “You’re very proud of that.”
“Hey, I crawl before I walk and walk before I run, and I felt as though we had a very good discussion,” McCarthy said, adding, “I think what you should gauge, being able to do that vote, [is] that the discussions are going well but that doesn’t mean they’re done. That doesn’t mean anything on that. But it’s just in that realm.”
Another reporter asked, “What happens between now and noon tomorrow [when the House returns]?”
“We talk until we get this done,” McCarthy said.
Bresnahan asked if there would be votes tomorrow, to which McCarthy replied: “People know where everybody’s at. These votes don’t really change at all. So I mean, that’s fine. I think these discussions help that. I think from this aspect of seeing the vote here — people want to spend their time discussing than being on the floor.”
A reporter asked if McCarthy has asked Byron Donalds, a GOP protest candidate, to drop out. McCarthy said, “No. No.”
-ABC News’ Trish Turner
Jan 04, 8:54 PM EST
House narrowly agrees to adjourn ’til Thursday after another day of failed votes
The motion to adjourn that was introduced shortly after the House returned from its Wednesday afternoon break passed by a narrow 216-214 vote. The chamber will return at noon on Thursday, presumably for more speaker votes.
Republicans had pushed for the adjournment, while Democrats and four Republicans opposed it, with some Democrats shouting for the clerk to stop the vote while the “no” votes were ahead.
The move to end for the night came after McCarthy held a closed-door meeting with detractors trying to block him from winning the speaker’s gavel. The meeting yielded no deal, but McCarthy said progress was made.
The vote to adjourn marked the climax of a second day of historic failed speaker votes — the first time in a century it has taken more than one round to pick a speaker.
Jan 04, 8:20 PM EST
Lawmakers gather after afternoon break, try to adjourn until Thursday
Lawmakers gathered Wednesday around 8 p.m. in the House after their afternoon adjournment and swiftly launched into a vote to adjourn again until Thursday at noon.
The House clerk asked for a voice vote, with Democrats then pressing for an individual counting of the votes, which is underway.
The effort to adjourn comes after McCarthy said progress had been made with the group of GOP critics blocking him the speakership but that there was no path yet to a firm deal.
Jan 04, 8:02 PM EST
McCarthy says 7th speaker vote would not yet be ‘productive’
Leaving a closed-door meeting during the House’s break from voting for a speaker on Wednesday, McCarthy said progress had been made but that there’s no deal yet and he doesn’t think another vote Wednesday night would be “productive.”
McCarthy, the Republican leader, has so far been blocked from the speakership by 20 members of his party repeatedly voting for other candidates — now across six rounds of voting over two days.
“I think it’s probably best to let people work through this more. I don’t think a vote tonight is productive. Let people work a little more,” McCarthy said after leaving the meeting with critics seeking to stop him from winning the speakership.
McCarthy said that while he didn’t have a deal in hand after meeting with the rebels, he insisted there was movement.
–ABC News’ Will Steakin, Lalee Ibssa and Gabe Ferris
Jan 04, 5:53 PM EST
Sources say House Republicans discuss ‘nuclear option’: Lower vote threshold to be speaker
As McCarthy’s quest to become speaker of the House continues to fall short, some of his allies are exploring a radical idea: lowering the threshold needed to be elected.
Under current House rules, a candidate needs an outright majority of all members voting to be elected speaker. With 433 members voting so far — and one member voting “present,” which doesn’t affect the total — that means McCarthy has repeatedly fallen far short of the 217 currently needed to win a majority.
The rules, however, can be changed: With a simple majority vote, the House could decide to allow a speaker to be elected with a plurality, or whoever has the most votes when no one has a majority. This has happened before, but very rarely.
It’s called the “nuclear option” because it would force anti-McCarthy voters to face a stark choice: vote for him or watch Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries get elected instead. After all, Jeffries has received 212 votes in every single round so far and the most McCarthy has received has been 203.
But would those 20 renegade Republicans continue to vote against McCarthy if doing so would result in electing a Democrat as speaker? Advocates of the option say the change would call the critics’ bluff and force them to vote for McCarthy or take the blame for ceding control of the House to Democrats.
According to two McCarthy allies in the House, the idea is being discussed among House Republicans. They believe Democrats would support the rules change.
One influential Republican voice, however, told ABC News he opposes the idea.
“I know it is an idea that has been floating around,” incoming House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said. “I’d be opposed it.”
He added: “I know Hakeem would like, but I don’t.”
-ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl
Jan 04, 5:00 PM EST
State spokesperson on House speaker vote: ‘Democracy at work’
While the State Department does not frequently weigh in on matters of domestic politics, spokesperson Ned Price on Wednesday afternoon directly addressed the tumult on Capitol Hill, painting a cheerier outlook than President Joe Biden did earlier.
Price was asked what message other countries around the world might take from the prolonged vote for House speaker — the first in a century.
“Our message has never been that democracy is neat or that democracy is seamless in terms of its operations. But what we’re seeing, what the world is seeing, are our democratic institutions at work,” Price said. “They are seeing our democracy at work.”
“Democracy isn’t always without its complications. But when processes are followed, institutions are respected, ultimately the outcome is one that everyone can get behind.”
Reporters asked Price whether the redundant, and so far fruitless, votes in the House — which is keeping the chamber in limbo — might give the impression of an inefficient governing system and if the first failed speaker vote in 100 years was an indicator that U.S. democracy was weakening.
“Look, I’m not going to characterize the U.S. political system,” Price said. “I will just say that there is a process that is being hued to right now by elected lawmakers. That in itself is a testament to the functioning of democracy, even if that functioning may be taking just a little bit longer than it has in the past 100 years or so.”
-ABC News’ Shannon Crawford
Jan 04, 5:06 PM EST
Meet ‘the most famous future member of Congress’
ABC News’ Jay O’Brien caught up with Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., outside of the House floor during the sixth round of votes for speaker — but Gomez wasn’t alone.
He was holding, in a swaddle, who ABC News Live anchor Kyra Phillips called “probably the most famous future member of Congress.”
Gomez had brought along his 4-month-old son Hodge for the votes on Tuesday and Wednesday; photos of the baby had already lit up social media.
“One of the things my wife and I wanted to do is make sure that he was, you know, personable, he got along with people and that he loved people,” Gomez said. “So we started making sure that he was used to it. And then he loved it. He loved being on the floor. Everybody was smiling at him, playing with him … And I think he’s gotten more votes for speaker than I have, maybe even Kevin McCarthy.”
Gomez called his son “my legacy, and I think all kids are our legacy. So I realized I wanted to bring him to the [House] floor to have him witness history, but also to recognize that he is what we’re fighting for. He represents the millions of kids that don’t have the privilege to be on the floor.”
O’Brien noted how well behaved Hodge was in the bustling chamber. Hodge had no comment but seemed to bob his head in response.
Of the news of the day, Gomez said he does not believe any Democrats will break ranks to vote for McCarthy, who has so far failed to unify the GOP majority to vote for him as speaker.
Jan 04, 4:36 PM EST
House adjourns until 8 p.m.
With the Republican conference still divided between a pro-McCarthy majority and 20 anti-McCarthy members, the House has chosen to adjourn until 8 p.m.
The motion from Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., was adopted by voice vote, though Democrats appeared staunchly opposed to the break — but did not call for a recorded vote.
Shortly before adjournment, McCarthy told reporters “we’re gonna break in a little then go meet” when asked what was next after the sixth failed vote.
Jan 04, 4:21 PM EST
McCarthy loses speaker vote for the sixth time
McCarthy, for the sixth time in two days, has failed to get enough votes to become the next speaker of the House.
The vote count for this round was unchanged from the previous two rounds: McCarthy won 201 votes, Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries won 212 votes and Rep. Byron Donalds, the current GOP protest candidate against McCarthy, won 20 votes.
Indiana Republican Victoria Spartz also voted “present” for the third time.
Jan 04, 3:56 PM EST
McCarthy says: ‘We’re gonna break … then go meet’
McCarthy is likely to continue negotiating into Wednesday night, after two days of failed speaker votes, and ABC News has learned that he is working to set up talks to attempt to come to an agreement with the group of 20 voting against him.
The logistics of such talks are still being nailed down — and according to people close to him, there is no singular leader of this group of 20.
When this will happen is unclear. Democrats and some Republicans have not yet wanted to adjourn the House, meaning they do not have the votes for adjourning and then continuing negotiations.
Off the House floor during the sixth round of voting, which McCarthy looked set to lose as well, he told reporters that “we’re gonna break in a little then go meet” when asked what’s next. He did not give any other specifics.
The House on Tuesday afternoon adjourned for the day after three rounds of votes, and they could repeat that pattern on Wednesday.
McCarthy has already made some major concessions to his critics without winning their support. He has agreed to lower the threshold to five members to force a vote to remove the speaker — known as a motion to vacate the chair.
Some anti-McCarthy members want this threshold to be lowered to one member.
Others have said that they want more responsibilities on the the panel charged with placing members on committees — known as the steering committee — and have proposed giving more members of the House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee designated seats on it.
McCarthy would likely only agree to this if he knew he was able to flip enough votes.
Former congressman Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party in 2019 and became the first member of Congress to call for Donald Trump to be impeached, is also present on the House floor.
He spoke to reporters, saying he’s here to pitch himself as a consensus speaker candidate if he’s needed and said he plans to speak to members about it. (This is a long shot bid, although the speaker does not need to be a current member of Congress.)
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin
Jan 04, 4:01 PM EST
Perry is latest McCarthy critic to nominates Donalds
Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., the chair of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, nominated Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., for speaker in the sixth round of voting.
“He has accomplished many things. He is a man of faith, he is a family man, he is a businessman … he has come from the school of hard knocks,” Perry said. “He’s got a record of accomplishing things. He’s got a record of being on the right side. He is respected. He is trusted.”
Perry also took a swipe at GOP leader McCarthy and his allies, who have suggested the Californian is responsible for heralding in the new Republican majority.
“I think the person that has done the most to make this fabulous, this wonderful Republican majority, is Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi and her policies. That’s what has achieved this majority here,” he said.
Donalds is so far earning 20 votes from Republicans in each round. He initially voted for McCarthy in the early rounds but switched his vote, saying McCarthy couldn’t win.
Jan 04, 4:32 PM EST
Cammack sparks Dem outrage after suggesting they brought alcohol to the floor
Remarks from Republican Rep. Kat Cammack suggesting Democrats brought alcohol into the chamber caused an outcry from the party shortly before the sixth round of speaker voting began.
“Diversity of thought is a good thing. But they want us divided. They want us to fight each other. That much has been made clear by the popcorn and blankets and alcohol that has come in over there,” she said as she was nominating McCarthy.
Some Democrats shouted back “take down her words!” — referring to a request to have her comment formally challenged and then stricken — and “make her apologize!”
Many members were also heard vocally reacting, including yelling objections.
Clerk Cheryl Johnson then asked “all members-elect to abide by the established decorum of the House” while nominating candidates for speaker.
Jan 04, 3:22 PM EST
House setting up sixth vote: ‘It’s Groundhog Day’
The House is moving full steam ahead with a sixth round of voting on Wednesday.
“Well, it’s Groundhog Day, again,” Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., said as she began her nomination speech for McCarthy.
“To all Americans watching right now, I want to tell you we hear you, we hear you,” Cammack said. “And we will get this right. No matter how messy this process is, we will emerge better for having been through this because nothing great ever comes easy.”.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York was again nominated by his party, with California Rep. Pete Aguilar again giving the speech.
Jan 04, 3:21 PM EST
Biden jokes that a reporter has just been chosen as speaker
President Joe Biden joked to a reporter outside of Air Force One on Wednesday afternoon that “I’ve got good news for you: They just elected you speaker.”
But in a more substantive comment, he again repeated his concerns about how the House will be able to operate given Republican in-fighting.
“Well obviously I am,” he said, when asked if he was concerned about the dangers of the House not being functional.
“I’s embarrassing for the country. I mean literally … that’s the reality, that to have a Congress that can’t function, is just embarrassing,” he said. “We’re the greatest nation in the world, how can that be? And we’ve had a lot of trouble … with the attacks on our institutions already. And that’s what worries me more than anything else.”
-ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky
Jan 04, 2:46 PM EST
McCarthy loses fifth vote for speaker
McCarthy has lost the fifth round of voting for speaker.
The vote count was the same as the previous round: McCarthy received 201 votes, Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries received 212 votes and Rep. Byron Donalds, the latest protest nominee from a faction of GOP lawmakers, received 20 votes.
Indiana Republican Victoria Spartz again voted “present.”
Jan 04, 2:37 PM EST
Boebert calls on McCarthy to withdraw
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., a firebrand conservative and McCarthy foe — while nominating Rep. Byron Donalds in the fifth round of voting — said McCarthy does not have the votes to prevail and should withdraw.
She also said that former President Donald Trump, who has backed McCarthy, should now also call on McCarthy to end his bid..
“The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that sir, you do not have the votes and it’s time to withdraw.”
Other members booed her as she concluded her remarks.
Jan 04, 1:58 PM EST
5th round of voting underway
The House wasted no time in starting up a fifth round of voting for speaker after Kevin McCarthy’s latest loss.
Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, stood up to nominate McCarthy shortly after the House clerk announced the vote count for the fourth round, during which McCarthy lost another supporter.
“Can we take a win every now and then? And give hope to the forgotten men and women of America, who no longer believe this place, this people’s house?” Davidson said.
Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar again nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert stood up to again nominate Florida Rep. Byron Donalds.
Jan 04, 1:55 PM EST
Who is Byron Donalds, latest protest nominee against McCarthy?
Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds was nominated on Wednesday as the latest protest nominee from within the GOP as leader Kevin McCarthy continues to struggle to win a majority to be elected speaker.
Who is Donalds?
Rep. Chip Roy, who nominated Donalds, called him a “dear friend, a solid conservative and, most importantly, a family man.”
Donalds’ campaign team has described him as a “Trump-supporting, liberty-loving, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment Black man.”
Roy noted in his nominating speech on Wednesday that, because Democrats are also nominating their leader, Hakeem Jeffries, “For the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed in nomination for speaker of the House.” That prompted a standing ovation from the chamber.
Donalds, like Jeffries, grew up in Brooklyn but went to college in Florida and built a career there in the financial and insurance industries, according to his House biography.
He was first elected to the House in 2020 after serving as a state representative and now represents Florida’s 19th Congressional District.
He and his wife have three sons.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson and Benjamin Siegel
Jan 04, 1:22 PM EST
McCarthy fails to gain any support, loses speaker vote for 4th time
Kevin McCarthy has added another loss to his bid for House speaker.
McCarthy received 201 votes in the 4th and latest round, his least amount of support so far. On Tuesday, he had 203 votes in the first two rounds followed by 202 votes in the third round.
Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries netted 212 votes in this round. Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, nominated as an alternative to McCarthy, received 20 votes.
One member, Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted present — a departure from her three previous votes for McCarthy. Spartz’s present vote prompted cheers from McCarthy’s critics.
Jan 04, 1:19 PM EST
McCarthy, Pelosi on today’s vote as they headed to House floor
Kevin McCarthy, when walking to the House floor just moments before what appears to be another failed bid to be elected speaker, told reporters he remains just as determined to win the gavel.
But there’s still no strategy emerging. Asked how he gets to 218 votes today, he said, “We’re going to continue to talk; we’ll find an agreement, where we all get together, and we’ll work through this and we’ll get it done.”
McCarthy should not expect Democrats to come to the rescue, at least not according to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“This is a problem of their own making,” Pelosi told reporters.
“Don’t put this at the Democrats’ doorstep – this is their problem, and their lack of respect for this institution; their lack of respect for the responsibility that we all have to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and get the job done for the American people,” Pelosi said as she walked to the floor.
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
Jan 04, 12:55 PM EST
McCarthy appears headed for another defeat as Donalds nets critical votes
Rep. Byron Donalds already has 13 votes for speaker — apparently enough to defeat McCarthy’s bid to be speaker for a fourth time.
The vote is ongoing, and the final results are yet to be announced.
Jan 04, 12:40 PM EST
Standing ovation from both sides over Donalds nomination
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, pointed out that this is the first time two Black Americans have been nominated for speaker.
His remarks were met with a standing ovation from both Republicans and Democrats.
“However … we do not seek to judge people by the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character,” Roy said after the applause quieted. “Byron Donalds is a good man, raised by a single mom, who moved past adversity, became a Christian man at the age of 21 and has devoted his life to advancing the cause for his family and for this country. And he has done it admirably.”
Democrats nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who has already made history as the first Black man elected to lead a party in Congress. He will serve as the Democratic caucus leader for the next two years.
The fourth vote for speaker is ongoing.
Jan 04, 11:08 AM EST
GOP leadership in talks to adjourn after House reconvenes at noon
Republican leadership is in talks to adjourn the House right after it reconvenes at noon to resume the votes for speaker, sources familiar with the discussions told ABC News.
Some Kevin McCarthy allies have been pushing for the delay, so they can continue to engage in talks behind the scenes.
The House adjourned Tuesday after three rounds of failed votes to elect McCarthy.
It’s not yet clear if there will be any objections to adjourning. There was no roll call vote to adjourn the House Tuesday, but any member can request one.
If there is a roll call vote, which is likely, 218 votes are needed to adjourn the House.
-ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott, Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin
Jan 04, 11:14 AM EST
Biden calls GOP fight over speakership ’embarrassing’
Asked on his way out of the White House about the GOP standoff in the House, President Joe Biden said electing a speaker is “not a good look” to the rest of the world.
“That’s not my problem,” Biden offered reporters. “I just think it’s a little embarrassing, that it’s taking so long and the way that they’re dealing with each other. And the rest of the world is looking, they’re looking at can we get our act together.”
“For the first time in 100 years, we can’t move,” he added later on. “It’s not a good look, it’s not a good thing. This is the United States of America, and I hope they get their act together.”
Biden was on his way to highlight improvements to a bridge that connects Cincinnati and Covington, Kentucky, to tout an investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law alongside Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Jan 04, 10:44 AM EST
McCarthy arrives on Capitol Hill: ‘I think we’ll get to 218’
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy arrived on Capitol Hill moments ago and entered the House speaker’s office, although he’s still fighting for the votes to take the position. McCarthy opponent Rep. Matt Gaetz has called him a “squatter” in the office.
McCarthy and his security pushed through a swarm of reporters and photographers who sprinted up the stairs to chase him.
Asked by ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott if he made any progress, McCarthy said, “I think we’ll get to 218.”
Asked by another reporter what the game plan is, he answered, “same as yesterday.”
Jan 04, 10:48 AM EST
Trump repeats endorsement of McCarthy for speaker
Former President Donald Trump again called on Republicans to support McCarthy as the House remains without a speaker and Republicans appear in disarray.
“Some really good conversations took place last night, and it’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY …” Trump posted on Truth Social this morning. “Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB – JUST WATCH!”
The post follows McCarthy telling reporters Tuesday night that the former president had reiterated his support for him. In an earlier interview with NBC News, Trump declined to say whether he supported McCarthy.
Among those Republicans who did not vote for McCarthy are some of Trump’s closest supporters in Congress, including Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
It comes almost two years to the day that McCarthy, on the House floor, said Trump “bears responsibility” for the “attack on Congress by mob rioters” on Jan. 6, before flocking to Mar-a-Lago to see Trump three weeks later.
Jan 03, 9:36 PM EST
Speaker vote expected to resume Wednesday
A fourth round of voting for the House speaker is certain to resume after the chamber gathers again on Wednesday at noon.
Members-elect adjourned until then shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, after three rounds of voting failed to elect a speaker.
Republicans, who hold the majority, did not coalesce behind their chosen leader, McCarthy, with roughly 20 lawmakers choosing other candidates.
Walking off the House floor earlier Tuesday, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told reporters that the conference wants to be unified so they can start on long-promised investigations.
He said he does not want to be the speaker, despite the backing of some McCarthy defectors — he said he wants to chair the judiciary committee.
Jan 03, 5:46 PM EST
Frustration was growing as voting wound down
House lawmakers adjourned until Tuesday as some of them grew restless following the three rounds of unsuccessful voting for a new speaker.
Signs of frustration mounted during the third vote, with Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., saying he was backing McCarthy “because I’m interested in governing.”
The voting took place as lawmakers had family and friends in town, and it was unclear at the time how deep into the night voting would go.
McCarthy had vowed to keep voting until there was a speaker, but the motion to adjourn shortly before 6 p.m. drew little opposition.
-ABC News’ Will Steakin and Benjamin Siegel
Jan 03, 5:35 PM EST
House adjourns, will resume Wednesday
The House overwhelmingly chose late Tuesday afternoon to adjourn until noon on Wednesday after a motion from Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., was adopted by voice vote
That decision came after three unsuccessful rounds saw no member-elect chosen as speaker, including McCarthy.
It’s the first time in a century that the speaker vote has taken multiple rounds.
Jan 03, 5:39 PM EST
McCarthy defector calls for ‘huddle’ to sort out speaker vote
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who changed his vote for speaker in the third round, said on social media that “continuous votes aren’t working.”
Donalds supported McCarthy during the first two rounds of voting, but then switched his choice to Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. On Twitter, Donalds indicated that he does not believe McCarthy has the support to ultimately become speaker.
“Our conference needs to recess and huddle and find someone or work out the next steps…but these continuous votes aren’t working for anyone,” Donalds wrote.
“When the dust settles, we will have a Republican Speaker, now is the time for our conference to debate and come to a consensus.”
“Democracy is messy at times, but we will be ready to govern on behalf of the American people. Debate is healthy,” he added.
Jan 03, 5:07 PM EST
McCarthy loses a supporter — and 3rd round of speaker vote
In the third round of voting, 20 Republican lawmakers voted against McCarthy for speaker — the highest amount so far. Those votes went to Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
In the first two rounds, 19 Republicans voted for a different candidate. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., voted for McCarthy two times before changing his vote to Jordan.
McCarthy received 202 votes in the latest round, making it the third time he’s trailed Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Democrats have already elected Jeffries to be their caucus leader in the new Congress.
Jan 03, 4:33 PM EST
McCarthy to ABC: ‘Their secret candidate nominated me’
“We stay in until we win,” McCarthy said as he headed back onto the House floor ahead of the third round.
After huddling with Reps. Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, Patrick McHenry and a few others off the floor, McCarthy told ABC News on his way back to the House floor that the prolonged vote was exactly what he was expecting to happen.
“This isn’t about me; this is about the conference now,” he said.
“If anybody wants to earn something, committee slots or others, you go through the conference to do that. You don’t get it by leveraging people. It just doesn’t happen,” he added.
McCarthy disputed that he hasn’t shown any progress throughout the afternoon.
“They put [Rep.] Jim Jordan [up as a candidate for speaker]. Remember how they all said they had a secret candidate. Their secret candidate nominated me, so where do they go now?”
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Allison Pecorin
Jan 03, 4:34 PM EST
McCarthy gets new defector in third round of voting
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., switched his vote for speaker after voting for McCarthy in the first two rounds.
Donalds, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, backed Rep. Jim Jordan in the third round of voting. If every candidate who voted for Jordan on the second ballot does so again, the Ohioan will get at least 20 votes.
Jan 03, 4:37 PM EST
Historic 3rd speaker vote underway in the House
Ahead of the House entering a third vote for the speakership, Rep. Pete Aguilar again nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for Democrats, prompting “Hakeem” chants from their side of the chamber, as Republicans remain in disarray.
“For unity in Congress and progress in our country, Democrats are united behind Hakeem Jeffries. I recommend Hakeem Jeffries as our speaker,” Aguilar said to applause.
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas nominated Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, again, despite Jordan losing in prior votes, his saying he didn’t want the position and asking Republicans to unite around McCarthy.
“Now, Jim has said he doesn’t want that nomination, and Jim has been down here nominating Kevin, and I respect that. Again, I have no personal animus toward Kevin,” Roy said. “But we do not have the tools or the leadership yet to stop the swamp from rolling over the American people. Jim has been doing it, he has a track record for doing that, and for those reasons, I’m nominating Jim Jordan for speaker of the House.”
Jan 03, 4:15 PM EST
Scalise says McCarthy critics are obstructing legislation
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., McCarthy’s No. 2, slammed McCarthy’s critics as obstructionists to legislative efforts to tackle issues like immigration and energy reserves.
“We all came here to get things done. To get big things done. To solve the problems. And I hope when we get through today that all the members on both sides of the aisle will get together to solve the problems,” he said when nominating McCarthy before the third round of voting.
However, he said, “we can’t start fixing those problems until we elect Kevin McCarthy” as speaker.
Scalise’s speech came after Jordan nominated McCarthy. Both men have been floated as potential alternatives if McCarthy is unable to win the majority needed to clinch the speakership.
Jan 03, 4:00 PM EST
Scalise seems to be drafting McCarthy nomination speech
ABC News’ Ben Siegel, on the House floor, spotted Steve Scalise seemingly drafting a nomination speech for Kevin McCarthy.
This would mark another twist as Republicans still struggle to coalesce around any single candidate.
Jan 03, 3:58 PM EST
White House ‘willing to work’ with GOP in new Congress but avoids weighing in on leadership fight
After two failed votes to select a House speaker on Capitol Hill, the White House said it is “certainly not going to insert ourselves” into that process but are
“looking forward to working” with the new Republican-controlled House.
Asked by ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Mary Bruce what the president wants to work on with Republicans once the House GOP leadership is in place, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre didn’t offer any specifics on what policies it wants to be first on the agenda.
“He’s willing to work with Republicans who are willing to continue to deliver for the American people,” she said. “He is very optimistic on what lies ahead and how we are going to move our country forward.”
And when asked whether it may be more difficult to work with Republicans after the ongoing leadership fight, Jean-Pierre repeated President Joe Biden’s optimism and noted bipartisan legislation that was passed in his first two years.
-ABC News’ Justin Gomez
Jan 03, 3:31 PM EST
Jordan says he told Gaetz not to nominate him as speaker
Right after Rep. Jim Jordan spoke on the House floor following the first vote — to support McCarthy in the next round — Rep. Matt Gaetz turned the tables and enthusiastically nominated Jordan to be speaker.
But Jordan told ABC News afterward that he told Matt Gaetz not to nominate him. Jordan would go on to pick up 19 votes in the second ballot.
Gaetz had said weeks ago he thought Jordan would be a good choice for speaker.
-ABC News’ Will Steakin and Katherine Faulders
Jan 03, 3:27 PM EST
McCarthy loses 2nd ballot as 19 Republicans vote for Jordan
Kevin McCarthy has fallen short of the votes needed to win House speaker for a second time.
Once again, 19 Republicans voted against McCarthy — this time unanimously backing Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Jordan had urged his colleagues to back McCarthy as he nominated the California congressman for speaker. But Rep. Matt Gaetz stood up to nominate Jordan, calling him the “most talented, hardest working member of the Republican conference.”
The House vote was identical to the first round: McCarthy again won 203 votes compared to Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ 212 votes.
Jan 03, 2:45 PM EST
Jordan wins enough votes to deny McCarthy speakership in 2nd vote
Enough Republicans have already voted for Jordan to deny McCarthy the speakership in a second ballot.
Just after Jordan rose to renominate McCarthy before the start of the second round of voting, nine Republicans backed the Ohioan before vote counting even got halfway through the alphabet.
Jordan was able to flip a number of Republicans who opposed McCarthy on the first ballot but didn’t vote for him, including Biggs, who voted for himself during the initial round of voting.
Jan 03, 2:31 PM EST
Gaetz nominates Jordan after Jordan urges colleagues to back McCarthy
After Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio took to the floor to encourage Republicans to back Rep. Kevin McCarthy for speaker, Rep. Matt Gaetz got up to nominate Jordan for the position.
“I rise to nominate the most talented, hardest working member of the Republican conference, who just gave a speech with more vision than we have ever heard from the alternative,” the Florida congressman said.
“Jim Jordan is humble. Perhaps today, humble to a fault,” Gaetz continued. “Maybe the right person for the job of speaker of the House isn’t someone who wants it so bad. Maybe the right person for the job of speaker of the House isn’t someone who has sold shares of themselves for more than a decade to get it.”
In the first round of voting, Jordan received six votes.
Jan 03, 2:28 PM EST
Jim Jordan nominates McCarthy in 2nd round of voting
After receiving six votes of his own on the first ballot, Rep. Jim Jordan nominated Kevin McCarthy in the second round of voting for House speaker.
“I rise to nominate Kevin McCarthy for speaker of the House,” Jordan said, prompting applause from several Republican members.
“We need to rally around him, come together, and deal with these three things, because this is what the people sent us here to do,” he added, ticking through Republican priorities in the new Congress.
“We owe it to them, the American people, the good people of this great country, to step forward to come together, get a speaker elected so we can address these three things. I hope you’ll vote for Kevin McCarthy and that’s why I’m proud to nominate him for speaker of the House,” Jordan said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Bob Good, one of the original “Never Kevin” members, said off the House floor that he plans to vote for Jordan on the second ballot despite Jordan’s call to support McCarthy — and expects other detractors will follow.
-ABC News’ Will Steakin
Jan 03, 2:20 PM EST
‘Optics are terrible’: ABC News’ Jonathan Karl on GOP speaker battle
ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl weighed in after the first ballot vote for House speaker.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy fell well short of the majority needed to clinch the position. He received 203 votes, while Democrat Rep. Hakeem Jeffries received 212. Nineteen lawmakers voted for someone else.
“The optics for Republicans is terrible,” Karl told ABC’s David Muir following the vote.
“They’ve taken control, they’ve won control of the House by a narrow majority, and [in the] first act of this Republican House, more votes went to the liberal Democrat candidate for speaker than went for Kevin McCarthy. Think about that David,” Karl said.
Jan 03, 2:13 PM EST
McCarthy to ABC News: Vote against him ‘exactly what we thought it’d be’
McCarthy told ABC News, after stepping off the House floor, that the current vote against him was “exactly what we thought it’d be.”
McCarthy added that this vote could go on for days and that “we got a number of members who are trying to fight for their own personal items” instead of for the country.
When asked how he what he can do to persuade the large number of members who voted against him by voting for others, McCarthy said he needs to convince them that “they don’t win gavels by trying to threaten or leverage somebody … I don’t think that’s what their constituents elected.”
-ABC News’ Will Steakin
Jan 03, 1:54 PM EST
McCarthy falls short in first speaker vote
After the first round of voting, no member obtained the 218 votes needed to become House speaker, but Democrat Hakeem Jeffries earned more votes than Kevin McCarthy — on the first day of a new Republican-controlled House.
Jeffries received 212 votes to McCarthy’s 203. Far-right Republican Andy Biggs of Arizona received 10 votes, and there were nine votes for others, including six for Rep. Jim Jordan, and, in a surprise move, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas voted for Florida’s Byron Donalds.
Nineteen Republicans broke from McCarthy, who could only afford to lose four, marking a stunning defeat by 15 votes. Despite having a majority this Congress, McCarthy got fewer votes this time than the last time he ran for speaker against Nancy Pelosi.
For the first time since 1923 — and the first time since floor proceedings have been televised — the speaker’s vote appears headed towards a second ballot.
While McCarthy has signaled he’s up for more voting rounds, he faces a steep hurdle in a second vote with so many lawmakers to win over — and the potential for Republicans to nominate another member, such as No. 2 Steve Scalise.
Jan 03, 1:37 PM EST
McCarthy gets quick standing ovation after voting for himself
After standing to cast a voice vote for himself, Kevin McCarthy smiled as he got a round of applause from his GOP supporters – even as it appeared that he would lose the first ballot for speaker.
McCarthy faced enough defections from his conference – with some voting for Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona or Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio – to likely not prevail in the first tally.
But the quick standing ovation for McCarthy was both indicative of the support he still has in the House Republican Conference and the challenges of a slim Republican House majority.
Jan 03, 1:41 PM EST
Appears McCarthy will not have votes on first ballot to be elected
The majority of House Republicans applauded when Rep. Elise Stefanik rose to nominate Kevin McCarthy — but more than a dozen, most of them sitting by the center aisle in the second to last row of the chamber, sat on their hands. The applause for McCarthy was hardly thunderous.
And with every vote against McCarthy, the sounds of murmuring in the chamber grew, as it also grew more obvious that McCarthy will not have the votes on the first ballot to be elected speaker.
In contrast, Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., had a sustained standing ovation when he nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY. Once the applause died down, Aguilar declared, “Today, House Democrats are united” — prompting even louder and more sustained applause from Democrats — while McCarthy sat silently and stone-faced on the other side of the aisle.
As McCarthy entered the rear of the chamber through the center door about 15 minutes earlier, he did so quietly and with little fanfare. Most people on the floor seemed not to notice. He walked all the way down to the area in front of the clerk before somebody went to talk to him, and it was a staffer for Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.
-ABC News’ Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl
Jan 03, 1:00 PM EST
Tense roll call vote begins
A tense roll call vote for speaker is beginning.
In alphabetical order, members are being asked to say aloud whom they are voting for as speaker.
-ABC News’ Benjamin Siegel
Jan 03, 12:53 PM EST
Aguilar declares Democrats ‘united’ behind Hakeem Jeffries
Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., has nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York to be the House minority leader.
Jeffries has made history as the first Black leader to be elected leader a congressional caucus. He was elected by Democrats in late November after Rep. Nancy Pelosi announced she was stepping down from the role.
“Today, madam clerk, House Democrats are united by a speaker who will people over politics,” Aguilar declared, an apparent dig at Republicans as the party struggles to unite behind a candidate for speaker.
“Hakeem Jeffries has worked his entire life to improve economic opportunity for all people. He’s committed to strengthening the American dream by lowering costs for working families, building safer communities by taking weapons of war off streets and by creating good-paying jobs in industries of the future.”
“He does not traffic in extremism,” Aguilar continued. “He does not grovel to or make excuses for a twice impeached so-called former president. Madam clerk, he does not bend a knee to everyone who would seek to undermine our democracy because, madam clerk, that’s not what leaders do.”
Jeffries and Pelosi greeted each other on the House floor on Tuesday morning.
Jan 03, 12:46 PM EST
Stefanik introduces McCarthy as GOP nominee for speaker
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., introduced Kevin McCarthy on the House floor as the GOP nominee for speaker.
Stefanik, a McCarthy ally, touted the Californian’s efforts to bolster House Republicans’ ranks by campaigning for diverse candidates from coast to coast.
“Since the day Kevin was elected as our leader, House Republicans have only gained seats and won,” she said. “Kevin knows what we stand for, he knows when to engage in the fight, and he knows how to build consensus.”
“His relentless effort has yielded an extraordinary House Republican majority,” she added. “Today’s House Republican Conference is the most diverse Republican conference in our nation’s history.”
And while her speech was mostly focused on building up McCarthy, Stefanik also offered a dig at his detractors, boasting that “Kevin McCarthy has earned this speakership of the ‘People’s House.'”
Jan 03, 12:44 PM EST
Magnetometers at House chamber entrances removed
Ahead of the vote for speaker, the magnetometers placed outside the doors of the House chamber in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol have been removed, as the new GOP majority demanded.
The GOP’s new proposed House rules had called for removing the magnetometers.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders, Will Steakin and Nicole Moeder
Jan 03, 12:33 PM EST
VP Kamala Harris swears in new senators
As House Republicans enter the 118th Congress in disarray over who will hold the speaker’s gavel, the Democrat-controlled Senate opened with Vice President Kamala Harris swearing in new members and those who won reelection in November.
Among the new faces in the chamber are Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman, Alabama’s Katie Britt and Missouri’s Eric Schmitt.
Arizona’s Mark Kelly and Georgia’s Raphael Warnock were sworn in for their first full, six-year terms.
Despite losing majority control in the House, Democrats expanded their advantage in the Senate by one seat.
Jan 03, 10:39 AM EST
McCarthy tells Republicans ‘I earned this job’: Source
In a closed-door meeting with House Republicans, Kevin McCarthy made a last-ditch case for speaker.
“I’m not going to go away. I’m going to stand until the last four friends stand with me,” he told the GOP members, according to a source in the room.
“I earned this job,” McCarthy said. “We earned this majority, and goddammit we are going to win it today.”
Jan 03, 10:33 AM EST
Rep.-elect George Santos arrives near House office
Rep.-elect George Santos, who has faced controversy and national attention for lying about or embellishing details of his background, was spotted by reporters in Congress Tuesday morning.
Santos was walking toward his office in the Longworth House Office Building, accompanied by a staffer, when he stopped and turned the other way once he saw reporters.
He declined to answer most questions, but told ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa he will vote for Kevin McCarthy for speaker.
Santos faced calls for accountability from some Republicans, but not from current Republican House leadership. He has said he will serve out his term in the House.
New members of the House will not be sworn in until a speaker is elected.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie, Lalee Ibssa, and Oren Oppenheim
Jan 03, 10:20 AM EST
McCarthy ready to battle for speaker’s gavel, sources say
As Republicans met behind closed doors ahead of the speaker vote, it appeared Kevin McCarthy still did not have the votes needed to be elected.
Sources close to the Republican leader say he’s ready to battle it out. It could go into multiple rounds of votes — something that hasn’t happened in 100 years — and the floor fight could drag on for hours, if not days. The longest battle for speaker was in 1856, and it took two months and 133 votes to resolve.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, who opposes McCarthy’s bid, has warned, “We may see the cherry blossoms bloom in Washington, D.C. before a speaker is elected.”
All of this overshadows the start of the new Congress where Republicans have a majority in the House for the first time since 2018.
-ABC News’ Rachel Scott
Jan 03, 9:43 AM EST
McCarthy arrives for GOP meeting: ‘We are going to have a good day’
Rep. McCarthy has arrived for a closed-door meeting with his fellow Republicans.
“We are going to have a good day today,” McCarthy said as he walked by reporters, who asked if he had the votes for speaker.
The California congressman then laughed as a reporter asked if he’d support Rep. Steve Scalise for speaker should he fail to get enough votes.
Jan 03, 9:42 AM EST
‘Follow Kevin McCarthy’ sign posted outside speaker’s office
Hours before the vote to elect a new House speaker, a sign has appeared in front of the speaker’s office with the message: “Follow Kevin McCarthy.”
McCarthy was set to shore up more support for his speaker bid in a closed-door meeting with the Republican caucus this morning. He faces opposition from a group of hard-line conservatives, who could sink what is his second attempt to hold the gavel.
The California congressman’s belongings have been brought into the speaker’s suite, but if he doesn’t get enough votes, he’ll have to move out.
Jan 03, 8:52 AM EST
GOP conference to hold last-minute meeting before speaker vote
The House Republican conference will meet behind closed doors at 9:30 a.m., just hours before the speaker vote begins at noon.
While McCarthy might be able to garner more support in a last-ditch appeal, his detractors have boasted that they’ll be able to muster the necessary opposition to block his bid.
Rep. Scott Perry, the chair of the House Freedom Caucus who is leading the group of hard-line conservatives opposing McCarthy’s bid, released a new statement Tuesday morning blasting the California congressman.
“In his 14 years in Republican Leadership, McCarthy has repeatedly failed to demonstrate any desire to meaningfully change the status quo in Washington,” Perry said.
Jan 03, 8:36 AM EST
McCarthy’s rise from California politics to GOP leader
Kevin McCarthy began his career as a staffer to then-Rep. Bill Thomas before chairing the California Young Republicans and later the Young Republican National Federation.
He was first elected to office in 2002, serving in the California state Assembly until 2007, when was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. At the time, he was dubbed one of the “young guns” of the next generation of conservative leadership.
McCarthy tried to become speaker in 2015 but his chance evaporated after resistance from the same kind of conservatives who are trying to block his path Tuesday. When Democrats took control of the House in 2018, McCarthy was elected House minority leader.
Jan 03, 8:26 AM EST
McCarthy’s bid for speaker unclear as new Congress set to begin
Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become the next speaker of the House is still clouded in uncertainty as lawmakers head to Capitol Hill for the first day of the 118th Congress.
McCarthy and his staffers spent the day Monday setting up the speaker’s office but he may have to move his belongings out if he fails to clinch the votes needed to secure the position.
A few dozen members piled into McCarthy’s office throughout the day Monday to go over last-minute strategy. ABC News spotted three McCarthy critics during the afternoon meeting: Reps. Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert and Scott Perry.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a McCarthy supporter, told ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott, “the problem is the people need to realize the art of the deal. They are all Trump supporters, and you can’t be successful if you’re not willing to take the wins when you get them” when asked about those in her party who are trying to tank McCarthy’s bid.
Rep. Jim Jordan, whose name has been floated around as a potential speaker candidate, said he believes McCarthy “can get there.”
McCarthy, however, didn’t directly answer reporter’s questions about how the vote could go, telling them, “I hope you all have a very nice New Year’s” as he exited the Capitol on Monday night.
(WASHINGTON) — The House Republican leadership standoff is stretching into a fourth day Friday after 11 failed votes so far to decide on a speaker over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is being stymied by a small group of hardliners. They are demanding concessions, to reshape how the House is run and legislation it prioritizes, or alternative candidates.
The House can conduct no other business — and members can’t be sworn in — until a speaker is chosen.
This is now the longest speaker election since 1859.
Here’s how the story is developing. All times Eastern:
Jan 07, 2:46 PM EST
What’s next for the House after McCarthy’s win
The House is adjourned until 5 p.m. Monday.
Members were advised by GOP Whip Tom Emmer’s office that the consideration of the rules package was postponed until Monday.
The rules package will outline how the chamber will run. A summary of the package released Friday included a key concession from McCarthy to his GOP detractors on the motion to vacate, allowing just one member to force a vote of no confidence to potentially oust the speaker.
McCarthy’s offer to his Republican opponents earlier this week included putting more House Freedom Caucus members on the influential House Rules Committee, and pledging votes on pieces of legislation that the caucus members have been pushing for, including a bill on term limits for lawmakers and a bill on border security.
Jan 07, 12:42 PM EST
McCarthy previews first actions of the new GOP-controlled House
Kevin McCarthy, just before swearing-in members, listed some of the priorities for the Republican majority in this 118th Congress.
The newly-elected House speaker said the very first bill Republicans will bring to the floor would repeal the billions of dollars in funding for additional Internal Revenue Service workers under the Inflation Reduction Act. Republicans assert the funding will result in the hiring of 87,000 agents to target middle-income families, which the Treasury Department has said isn’t the case.
He then laid out what Republicans will be investigating, stating “one of our first hearings will be held at the Southern border.”
He said to also expect committees to be formed to investigate how to win the economic competition with China, the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the origins of COVID-19.
“We will use the power of the purse and the power of the subpoena to get the job done,” he said.
More details on the party’s legislative agenda can be read here.
Jan 07, 11:53 AM EST
McCarthy credits Trump’s ‘influence’ after his speaker win
McCarthy told reporters early Saturday that it was the influence of former President Donald Trump that helped push the final holdouts over the finish line.
“I especially want to thank President Trump. I don’t think anybody should doubt his influence,” McCarthy said. “He was with me from the beginning … he was all in.”
“I was just talking to him tonight, helping get those final votes,” McCarthy said.
At one point during Friday’s session, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tried to hand her phone to Republican holdout Rep. Matt Rosendale with Trump presumably on the line. You can see “DT” as the caller on her phone.
But Trump’s enthusiastic vote of confidence in McCarthy earlier in the week appeared to be a non-factor as, despite his warning that failing to elect McCarthy would be a disaster, not a single holdout changed their vote until days later — and after McCarthy made several key concessions.
Jan 07, 11:06 AM EST
Most contentious speaker battle in over a century ends
The most contentious battle for House speaker in more than 160 years has officially come to an end.
Days after being called a “squatter” by some members of his own party — McCarthy now has his name across the House speaker’s office.
“I will work with anyone and everyone who shares our passion to deliver a better future for our nation,” McCarthy pledged as he received the gavel early Saturday morning. “As a Congress, we can only operate if we cooperate. My door will be open. I’d like you to come by.”
-ABC News’ Rachel Scott
Jan 07, 1:43 AM EST
McCarthy takes oath of office, tells members ‘I never give up’
“I may not know all of you, some of you are new,” McCarthy said as he wrapped up his remarks. “But I hope one thing is clear after this week: I never give up.”
“I make this promise, I’ll never give up on you the American people,” he added.
McCarthy then took his oath of office and is now the 55th speaker of the House of Representatives.
Jan 07, 1:29 AM EST
McCarthy after receiving the gavel: ‘Now the hard work begins’
“That was easy, huh?” McCarthy joked as he received the speaker’s gavel from Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. “I never thought we’d get up here.”
As he listed his priorities for the 118th Congress, McCarthy said it was time for the Republican majority to be a check and provide a balance to President Joe Biden’s policies.
“And now the hard work begins,” he said. “What we do here today, next week, next month, next year will set the tone for everything that follows.”
Jan 07, 1:16 AM EST
Jeffries hands McCarthy the speaker’s gavel
At approximately 1:15 a.m. Saturday, McCarthy was handed the speaker’s gavel from Democratic caucus leader Hakeem Jeffries.
But before Jeffries turned it over to McCarthy, he ran through a list of Democratic accomplishments over the past two years and gave a final nod to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“Pelosi will go down in history as the greatest speaker of all time,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries said this is a moment of “transition” for Congress, from a “year of accomplishment to a year of ambiguity.”
“But we do extend our hand of partnership to you,” he said.
Jan 07, 1:01 AM EST
Biden congratulates McCarthy, says he’s prepared to work with GOP
The White House has put out a statement from President Joe Biden, in which he and first lady Jill Biden congratulated McCarthy.
“The American people expect their leaders to govern in a way that puts their needs above all else, and that is what we need to do now,” Biden said.
“As I said after the midterms, I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can and voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well,” he continued. “Now that the leadership of the House of Representatives has been decided it is time for that process to begin.”
Biden said it’s “imperative” the nation continues to make economic progress, protect Social Security and Medicare benefits and defend national security.
“As the last two years show, we can do profound things for the country when we do them together,” Biden said.
Jan 07, 12:53 AM EST
McCarthy’s reaction after win: ‘Glad it’s over’
McCarthy’s first words stepping off the House floor after clinching the speakership: “Glad it’s over.”
McCarthy also said “no one gets promised anything” when asked if he promised Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a subcommittee gavel.
Gaetz blocked McCarthy from winning in the 14th round, much to the frustration of the caucus, but changed his vote to “present” in the 15th and final ballot.
-ABC News’ Will Steakin and Lauren Peller
Jan 07, 12:40 AM EST
McCarthy finally wins speakership, ending gridlock in the House
McCarthy has finally won the speakership after receiving 216 votes.
Republicans erupted into applause and cheers as the victory became apparent around 12:30 a.m.
McCarthy consistently had the most votes of any Republican but was stymied all week by a small but influential group of GOP rebels who opposed his bid.
The California Republican offered a slate of concessions to pave his pathway, including lowering the threshold of support needed to trigger a vote to remove a speaker to just one lawmaker.
Six of the final GOP holdouts voted “present” in the last round, clearing the way for McCarthy to get to a majority.
Lasting 15 rounds and four days, the vote counting took a historic amount of time and was the longest process to name a speaker since before the Civil War.
The process prevented the House from conducting any business, including considering bills, forming committees and even swearing in lawmakers, which put staff pay, meetings with intelligence officials and more at risk. With a speaker now elected, House business can move forward.
Jan 07, 12:08 AM EST
McCarthy appears to win House speaker after historic 15 rounds
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy appeared to have finally won the speakership after 15 rounds of voting and a years-long personal quest, a win that would allow the chamber to finally swear in lawmakers and legislate.
Jan 06, 11:56 PM EST
House moves to 15th vote for speaker
The House is voting again to elect a speaker.
Republicans moved to adjourn until Monday after McCarthy fell one vote shy in the 14th round. Rep.-elect Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., introduced the motion but it failed 155-279 — with several Republicans changing their vote halfway through.
McCarthy clearly thinks he now has the votes.
“Everybody take a seat, let’s go one more time!” McCarthy said.
Arkansas Republican Bruce Westerman rose to nominate McCarthy, saying “the eyes of the world, the eyes of America are on this body right now.”
Jan 06, 11:37 PM EST
Heated moment in the chamber as McCarthy loses speaker vote
The atmosphere in the chamber turned heated when McCarthy was denied the speakership again, this time by just one vote.
Mike Rogers, R-Ala., moved toward Rep. Matt Gaetz after he voted “present” — ultimately sinking McCarthy’s chance of getting a majority of votes needed. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., covered his mouth and pulled him away.
McCarthy himself appeared caught off guard. When Gaetz voted “present,” McCarthy mouthed “we don’t win.”
It sucked the air out of the room.
One Democrat member yelled “s***.” Others groaned or gasped. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the incoming Democratic caucus leader, said “just another day at the park.”
The House is now voting on a motion to adjourn until noon Monday.
–ABC News’ Rachel Scott
Jan 06, 11:30 PM EST
Matt Gaetz casts deciding vote to sink McCarthy chance at win
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., sealed McCarthy’s fate on Friday as he voted “present” in the 14th round, leaving the California congressman one vote short of winning the gavel.
Gaetz missed the first roll call, making him one of the final members to vote.
Gaetz has led the opposition to McCarthy’s bid these past few days, nominating GOP alternatives such as Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio or even former President Donald Trump.
“This has never been about me or Kevin McCarthy. It’s about the American people,” Gaetz tweeted before his vote. “America wants to know that the rules of the House of Reps would never allow something like this horrendous omnibus bill to ever pass ever again.”
Jan 06, 11:18 PM EST
McCarthy falls one vote shy of winning gavel on 14th round
McCarthy fell just one vote shy of winning the speakership in a late-night vote on Friday.
The GOP leader received 216 votes. He needed 217 to have a majority of the 432 votes cast.
None of the six remaining holdouts flipped to McCarthy. Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep Lauren Boebert — two of his Republican defectors — voted “present.” Two of his opponents voted for Rep. Jim Jordan and two voted for Rep. Andy Biggs.
Jan 06, 10:26 PM EST
Aguilar criticizes GOP over Jan. 6 as he nominates Jeffries
Rep.-elect Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., criticized his colleagues on the other side of the aisle over the Jan. 6 attack as he nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for speaker.
“If we are forced to be here this evening, because of the chaos and crisis on the other side, it’s only fair to point out Madam Clerk that the same individuals who fanned the flames of Jan. 6, who told their followers and their followers followers that they needed to fight back and who challenged the swearing-in of members based on a bogus claim of fake electors may well be in charge of the People’s House if they can ever agree on who could lead them.”
Aguilar’s remarks drew dissent from Republicans.
“That’s why House Democrats stand united behind Hakeem Jeffries. Hakeem Jeffries is the only candidate in this race for speaker who will defend democracy,” Aguilar said.
Voting is now underway.
Jan 06, 10:17 PM EST
McHenry nominates McCarthy for speaker
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., nominated McCarthy for speaker, prompting sustained applause from the Republican caucus.
“I want to start by thanking the men and women who make this House run,” McHenry said. “From the janitorial staff, to the parliamentarians, to the doorkeepers, to the sergeant at arms, to the Capitol Police officers, to the men and women who make this institution run, thank you.”
The remarks received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle.
McHenry went on to address the party’s struggles in swiftly electing a speaker, stating, “We know it’s messy but open and transparent debate sets us apart from authoritarian regimes.”
Jan 06, 10:09 PM EST
House gavels back in for 14th speaker vote
House Clerk Cheryl Johnson gaveled in the chamber just after 10 p.m.
Members were starting a 14th vote for a speaker. Republican leader McCarthy said he’s confident he will have the support tonight to clinch the speaker’s gavel.
Fifteen Republican holdouts flipped for McCarthy this afternoon after days of stalemate in the speakership battle. He will need more of his opponents to switch their stances or vote “present” tonight in order to win.
Former President Donald Trump spent the day calling the Republican holdouts, including the remaining six defectors, in hopes of getting them to flip their votes to McCarthy, sources familiar with the calls told ABC News. But Trump’s endorsement of McCarthy earlier this week was essentially a non-factor.
Jan 06, 4:30 PM EST
‘We’ll have the votes and finish this once and for all,’ McCarthy says
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy seems all but certain that he has the votes to push this over the finish line tonight.
“I’ll have the votes,” McCarthy said as he headed off the House floor after the chamber adjourned until 10 p.m.
“We’ll come back tonight, and I believe at that time we’ll have the votes and finish this once and for all,” he said.
McCarthy attempted to portray the drawn-out negotiations and multiple ballots — the most since before the Civil War — as a positive thing. “This is the great part,” he said. “Because it took so long now we learned how to govern.”
But to be clear, this is still a bit of a numbers game and McCarthy doesn’t have the votes yet.
He still needs to flip votes. If there are zero absences , McCarthy would need to flip two of the six remaining holdouts: Reps.-elect Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Eli Crane, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good and Matt Rosendale.
But there are other paths to the speakership, again assuming no absences when members reconvene: Either one flips of remaining holdouts; one flip and one (or more) “present” votes; if no flips, three or more “present: votes.
Asked by ABC News what he says to those who think he’s giving up too much to a small percentage of his conference, McCarthy argued that it was actually the whole conference that came together on these reforms.
“The whole conference worked on these reforms. These reforms are actually very good. It empowers the members,” he said.
–ABC News Katherine Faulders, Lauren Peller, Will Steakin and Ben Siegel
Jan 06, 2:50 PM EST
One more Republican flips, McCarthy still short
Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland appears to be the only remaining holdout Republican to flip his vote for McCarthy so far in the 13th round of voting, signaling more momentum for McCarthy but not enough to win the speakership.
While no other Republican was formally nominated this round, five voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Bob Good, R-Va., Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., and Rep.-elect Eli Crane remain in the “Never Kevin” crowd.
Jan 06, 1:33 PM EST
McCarthy flips 14 GOP holdouts but still falls short of speaker’s gavel
Fourteen of the Republicans who’d been opposing McCarthy’s bid switched their stance in the 12th round of voting.
But it wasn’t enough for him to clinch the speaker’s gavel. McCarthy received 213 votes, still short of the majority needed.
He gained support from Reps.-elect Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Michael Cloud of Texas, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Byron Donalds of Florida, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Mary Miller of Illinois, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Chip Roy of Texas, Keith Self of Texas, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, Paul Gosar of Arizona and Andrew Ogles of Tennessee.
Perry, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, cited a “framework for an agreement” as he explained his shift in a Twitter post.
“We’re at a turning point,” Perry wrote.
The flips follow a key concession from McCarthy to make it even easier to remove him as speaker if he is elected. Under the deal, a single member from either party could trigger an up-or-down simple majority vote on whether to remove the speaker.
Jan 06, 1:05 PM EST
Several Republican holdouts flip to McCarthy
In Friday’s first round of voting — the 12th round overall this week — several of the Republicans who’d been opposing McCarthy’s bid switched their stance.
But it remains unclear whether McCarthy will gain enough support to clinch the gavel. The vote is ongoing.
Jan 06, 12:46 PM EST
Republicans exit chamber as Gaetz calls McCarthy bid an ‘exercise in vanity’
Responding to Rep. Mike Garcia saying McCarthy has “earned this position,” Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, blasted the bid as “an exercise in vanity” and cast McCarthy as “the LeBron James of special interest fundraising in this town.”
“You only earn the position of speaker of the House if you can get the votes. Mr. McCarthy doesn’t have the votes,” Gaetz said. “He will not have the votes — and he will not have the votes next week, next month, next year — ad so one must wonder, madam clerk, is this an exercise in vanity for someone who has done the math, taken the counts, and is putting this institution threw something that absolutely is avoidable?”
Gaetz also drew colleagues that support McCarthy into his attack, prompting Rep.-elect Mike Bost of Illinois to shout at Gaetz, making the case that he wasn’t gaining any traction in the debate. Several Republicans then left the chamber while Gaetz continued his nominating speech.
“They believe that Mr. McCarthy has earned the position of speaker of the house because he raised half a billion dollars to get Republicans elected,” Gaetz said, as he was interrupted and members walked out.
“Selflessness is not selling shares of yourself to the lobbying core and then doing their bidding at the expense of the American people,” Gaetz said. “But there certainly is intent. It’s an intent driven almost exclusively by personal ambition, and that ambition is paralyzing the house now.”
He ultimately nominated Rep. Jim Jordan, who is supporting McCarthy’s bid.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo, also in the “Never Kevin” camp, went on to nominate Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., once again.
Jan 06, 12:32 PM EST
Clyburn invokes Jan. 6 while nominating Jeffries: ‘Our resolve was tested’
Rep.-elect Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., took time to recognize Friday’s second anniversary of the U.S. Capitol attack as he nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., for speaker.
“This body has a unique role in this government,” Clyburn said. “What we do and how we do it will determine whether our pursuit toward a more perfect union can continue in earnest. No day in recent history underscores the importance of that pursuit more than Jan. 6. Exactly two years ago today, our resolve was tested when a violent mob of insurrectionists attacked our Capitol, threatened the integrity of this democracy, and undermined our Constitution. The greatness of this country and the resiliency of our democracy were put at peril. But we survived.”
Clyburn said Democrats are “offering the people of America a good man who has the best interests of the American people at heart.”
Jan 06, 12:30 PM EST
McCarthy nominated in 12th speaker vote
For a 12th time, McCarthy was nominated to become House speaker, this time by fellow California Republican Rep.-elect Mike Garcia, who said Republicans are “on the verge of a very important victory.”
“This isn’t about Kevin McCarthy,” Garcia said. “The matters before us are of stupendous magnitude. A federal republic such as ours, it’s a dynamically unstable one. It’s a wobbly top that’s just a few mere revolutions away from falling down at any given moment except for the exertions of men and women who are willing to serve her with pure and selfless intent.”
“We must be victorious in this cause, and victory begins with allowing this body to get to work. It begins today,” he continued. “We don’t hold the majority for bragging rights. We hold the majority to govern responsibly.”
Garcia drew boos from Democrats when he mentioned an end to proxy voting, implying they overused the option, though Republicans exercised proxy voting during the pandemic, as well.
“It dawns on me, as I look across the aisle after being here for nearly three years, that I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting many of you because you’ve chosen to stay home and not vote here in person and electing instead to proxy vote,” Garcia said. “It’s a pleasure to see 212 of you here today.”
Jan 06, 11:40 AM EST
McCarthy promises to ‘shock’ in 4th day without House electing speaker
Despite his record-busting 11 failed speaker votes looming large, McCarthy entered the Capitol this morning showing confidence.
Peppered with questions about whether his recent offer to Republican hardliners who oppose him would be enough to secure his gavel, McCarthy said he wasn’t sure if today would yet be the day, but said, “We’re going to make progress,” adding, “We are going to shock you.”
But he also noted that there will likely be member attendance issues Friday and over the weekend as some lawmakers have already left in Washington.
“I don’t know if we can get there today, but we’re going to make progress,” McCarthy said.
Jan 06, 11:22 AM EST
No speaker deal yet, McCarthy tells members on GOP call
During a conference call this morning with the Republican conference, McCarthy told members that there’s not officially a deal to vote him speaker, but said he believes they’re “in a good position” and working in “good faith.”
“I’m not telling you we have an agreement,” McCarthy said on the call, according to multiple sources. “We’re in a good position and having meetings.”
McCarthy ally, Patrick McHenry, said on the call that no gavels for committee chairmanships have been promised during their talks.
McCarthy, again, said on this call that he has agreed to offer a key concession: making it even easier to remove him as speaker if he is elected. So, a single member, from either party, can trigger an up-or-down simple majority vote on whether to remove the speaker.
But still, after failing 11 times, the math still doesn’t appear to be in McCarthy’s favor. And there could be votes over the weekend.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a pro-McCarthy ally, told ABC News that the next phase of working on the handful of hard no’s will involve more isolated discussions with those who have concerns beyond just personal issues.
“It’s not a monolithic group. Each one of them have different concerns. Some, it’s motion to vacate, some, it’s guardrails around the budget. But when you shrink that group down, you’re able to have one-on-one conversations as to what does it take for them to get to yes, if anything,” Fitzpatrick said.
Jan 06, 11:14 AM EST
Jan. 6 anniversary highlights election deniers blocking McCarthy
The vast majority of the Republicans blocking McCarthy’s speaker bid have given life to the so-called “big lie” in the two years since the Capitol attack.
Of the 15 incumbents in the flank rejecting McCarthy, 14 challenged the results of the 2020 election two years ago.
Just two of the 20, which includes five freshmen, acknowledge the legitimacy of the 2020 election: Chip Roy of Texas and Rep.-elect Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma.
The small but significant group appears on the verge now of taking the reins of power in Washington by using their leverage against McCarthy, who himself has a tortured relationship with Jan. 6 and the 2020 election.
McCarthy was one of 147 House Republicans to reject its certification ahead of a floor speech deeming Trump “bears responsibility” for the “mob attack.”
Jan 06, 10:28 AM EST
House Republican slams GOP hardliners ‘holding us hostage’
With all other House business put on hold, Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska has continued to voice frustration with the small but significant flank of his party refusing to support McCarthy’s speaker bid.
“Our constituents call me and they want help with passports, visas, disability claims with the VA, and all that’s on hold — and that’s because of these 20 people who are holding us hostage,” Bacon told ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott.
Bacon, who serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Armed Services, said he was also forced to cancel a classified briefing this week because he lost his security clearance.
Jan 06, 9:17 AM EST
McCarthy’s quest enters 4th day after 11 failed speaker votes
With the House set to reconvene at noon, McCarthy’s quest for the House speakership enters a fourth day Friday following 11 failed attempts this week.
It’s unclear if Republicans will attempt to adjourn the House until next week, providing more time for negotiations, or if the House will immediately enter additional rounds of votes.
As this becomes the longest speaker race since before the Civil War, the California Republican has downplayed the prolonged process, saying late Thursday, “It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish.”
All House business remains at a standstill until a speaker is elected — a fact Democrats have criticized.
“As we mark a day that threatened our Democracy, let us show our respect for the great institution of the Congress,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted, noting the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack. “We must open the House and proceed with the People’s work.”
Jan 06, 12:07 AM EST
Kevin McCarthy to ABC News: ‘It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish’
It’s the question that’s top of mind for everyone on Capitol Hill: How long will this drag out?
“I’d love to know… but we’re working through it, we made good progress today, so we’ll continue to talk,” leader McCarthy told ABC News Thursday night, also saying: “I’m not putting any timeline, I just think we’ve got some progress going on, we’ve got members talking. I think we’ve got a little movement. So we’ll see.”
Sources tell ABC News that McCarthy is inching closer to a deal that could earn the support of at least 12 more Republicans. But he can only lose the support of four members from his own party.
McCarthy said he’s willing to drag it out for as long as it takes.
“I’m not putting any timeline, I just think we’ve got some progress going on, we’ve got members talking,” he said. “I think we’ve got a little movement. So we’ll see.”
He insisted he wouldn’t be a “weaker speaker” if he were to be elected because of the concessions he has made.
“We have a five-seat majority. So, it’s not one side is going to get more than the other, it’s the entire conference is going to have to learn how to work together,” McCarthy said. “So, it’s better that we go through this process right now so we can achieve the things we want to achieve for the American public, what our commitment was.”
“So, if this takes a little longer, and it doesn’t meet your deadline, that’s OK. Because it’s not it’s not how you start. It’s how you finish, and if we finish well, we’ll be very successful,” he added.
-ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Katherine Faulders and Allie Pecorin
Jan 05, 9:52 PM EST
House committee staffers could miss paychecks without a speaker
A memo sent to prospective House committees on Thursday night outlined some of the impact the prolonged speaker fight could have on Capitol Hill if it continues to drag out.
The guidance obtained by ABC News states that if the House hasn’t adopted a rules package, which outlines how the chamber runs, committees’ payroll payments and student loan repayments would be impacted.
“Committees need to be aware that should a House Rules package not be adopted by end of business on January 13 payroll will not be processed for any committee staff since the committee’s authority for the new Congress is not yet confirmed,” the memo, sent by the House’s chief administrative officer, states.
The memo also notes that House employees who are enrolled in a student loan forgiveness program may be impacted: “Committees need to be aware that should a House Rules package not be adopted by end of business on January 13 no committee will be able to process student loan payments since the committee’s authority for the new Congress is not yet confirmed.”
The House cannot conduct normal business until a speaker is selected, including adopting rules. Possibly further complicating the timeline, sources tell ABC News that a potential new package currently being worked on will include a mandatory 72-hour review time for bills ahead of any votes, which would include the vote on the rules package.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin
Jan 05, 9:52 PM EST
Trump suffers lopsided political defeat after being nominated as speaker
Donald Trump was formally nominated for House speaker on Thursday — and the former president went on to win only one vote in the most recent round of the ongoing contest.
The 11th round of the speaker votes resulted in Trump’s most lopsided defeat of his political career, losing 200-13-6-1 (among Republicans), not to mention 212 Democrats who voted against him.
The math works out to only 0.45% of the House Republican conference voting for Trump for speaker. For his part, he has endorsed GOP leader McCarthy, who has so far been unsuccessful in persuading a minority of his party to back him.
Trump’s lone vote? Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
-ABC News’ John Parkinson
Jan 05, 8:20 PM EST
House adjourns after 3 days of failed votes
House Republicans successfully, though narrowly, voted on Thursday night to adjourn until noon on Friday following another day of unsuccessfully trying to choose a speaker.
Talks are ongoing between leader McCarthy and his critics. But the five rounds of votes on Thursday repeatedly showed the same results as Tuesday and Wednesday: McCarthy is opposed by 20 members of his party, depriving him of the gavel.
The vote to adjourn ’til Friday was 219-213, with Democrats and one Republican opposed.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Jan 05, 8:25 PM EST
McCarthy critics insist impasse is ‘healthy’
Several critics of McCarthy are insisting that their opposition is sparking worthwhile debate on the floor.
“I think it’s incredibly healthy, actually, for the American people to see that we’re on the floor,” said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who has sought to block McCarthy’s path to the speakership and nominated Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., to hold the gavel.
Several more junior lawmakers lamented the lack of debate on legislation on the House floor and said the conversations over the speakership marked a drastic uptick in the amount of back-and-forth in the chamber.
“We have had more discussion and debate over the last three days than I have participated in on this floor for the last two years,” said Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., who also nominated Donalds. “And it’s healthy. It absolutely promotes the collegiality that everyone is striving to obtain.”
Jan 05, 7:59 PM EST
Republicans attempt to adjourn until Friday
Following another failed vote for speaker, at the end of the third day of deliberations, Republicans moved to adjourn the House until noon on Friday.
Democrats vocally opposed the motion, leading every lawmaker to have to cast an electronic ballot.
The vote is ongoing.
ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Jan 05, 7:54 PM EST
McCarthy loses 11th round of voting
McCarthy on Thursday night lost the 11th round of voting for House speaker, with little proven progress despite rumors of a coming agreement with his critics.
McCarthy won 200 votes, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York won 212. 12 Republicans voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and seven more voted for Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., voted for former President Donald Trump, and Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted “present.”
Given that no person clinched an outright majority of votes, a speaker was not elected.
Jan 05, 6:14 PM EST
McCarthy loses 10th round of voting
In a repeat of the previous nine rounds since Tuesday, McCarthy on Thursday lost the 10th round of voting, extending his streak of defeats as his party failed to choose a speaker.
McCarthy won 200 votes, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York won 212. Thirteen Republicans voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a protest candidate against McCarthy, and seven more voted for Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., who is backing McCarthy himself despite this.
Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., again voted “present.”
These tallies were essentially unchanged from every other round of voting.
It’s unclear if Republicans will try to adjourn after the vote is tallied, though talks between McCarthy and his critics are expected to continue.
Jan 05, 5:42 PM EST
Movement possible between McCarthy, critics — but real obstacles remain
With the speaker vote already at 10 historic rounds and counting, there are some early signs of movement toward a potential deal on a rules package between McCarthy and some of his detractors currently blocking him from the gavel.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., a top McCarthy ally, said off the House floor to “stay tuned” and that the public should “see some movement in the next 24 hours or so” toward a potential deal regarding a rules package. That has been a sticking point for many of the McCarthy holdouts who want rules that would shrink the overall power of the speaker — and, in this view, increase the influence of other members and change the priorities of the GOP.
Fitzpatrick added, however, that, “We’re gonna be missing some numbers for medical issues and whatnot” on Friday.
That is another complicated issue facing McCarthy that may push the speaker vote to next week, given at least four members voting for McCarthy have to leave town for medical issues and family matters, according to sources.
Meanwhile, some of the most vocal McCarthy opponents have gone silent when asked for updates on progress — often a sign on Capitol Hill that a deal could be in the works.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a current no on McCarthy who has been in deep conversations with him and his team, has been mostly mum in the building, only saying that they are trying to work things out.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin
Jan 05, 5:45 PM EST
Lauren Boebert nominates Kevin Hern
Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert nominated her colleague from Oklahoma, Rep. Kevin Hern, for speaker.
Speaking to her GOP colleagues, Boebert said “it’s time to build momentum” around a different candidate.
“Many of you have said it. You see that Kevin McCarthy does not have the votes,” she said.
Boebert and Oklahoma’s new Rep.-elect Josh Brecheen voted for Hern in the previous round. Hern was first elected to the House in 2018 and has served on the House Ways and Means Committee. He currently chairs the Republican Study Committee.
Jan 05, 4:44 PM EST
McCarthy losses continue to pile up
McCarthy lost in the ninth round of voting, as he continues to remain stagnant with an insufficient amount of support.
Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries again netted 212 votes as his entire caucus rallied around him. The GOP alternatives to McCarthy — Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Kevin Hern, R-Okla. — earned 17 votes and three votes, respectively.
McCarthy lost one vote from prior rounds as supporter Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., did not vote though it was unclear why.
Indiana Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz again voted present.
For the first time since 1859, before the Civil War, at least a 10th round of voting is needed to elect a speaker of the House.
Jan 05, 2:59 PM EST
McCarthy loses again in 8th round of voting
McCarthy has suffered yet another defeat.
The California congressman received 201 votes in the eighth round, matching other recent rounds. Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York won 212 votes and Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, the GOP nominee put up against McCarthy, won 17 votes.
This round, there was another Kevin — Republican Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma — who received votes.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Rep.-elect Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., voted for Hern, who hadn’t previously been mentioned for speaker. Hern has served in the House for four years and has been backing McCarthy for speaker.
For a second time today, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., voted for former President Donald Trump. Indiana Republican Victoria Spartz again voted present.
Jan 05, 2:18 PM EST
Nominations read out for 8th round of voting
The eighth round of speaker voting began on Thursday after Kevin McCarthy, Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Byron Donalds, R-Fla., were again nominated.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., put for McCarthy as speaker favored by a majority of the GOP conference, saying he would be different from past Republican speakers and mentioning several of the Californian’s critics by name.
“I vouched to my community that Kevin will do as he has promised. He will give us the opportunity to right to course,” Mast said.
Rep. Kathleen Clark, D-Mass., nominated Jeffries, the Democratic leader, while panning Republican opposition to policies on guns, insulin costs and more.
“This intraparty fight that the American people have been drawn into is imperiling our national security. It will imperil the ability of this government to deliver basic services. It is imperiling our jobs and our responsibility to serve our constituents. But it is also entirely predictable. They’re failing to convene Congress today, but for years they have failed to deliver their votes for the American people,” Clark said.
And Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who nominated Donalds, the GOP protest nominee against McCarthy, said it was necessary to change Congress’ leadership in order to change policies.
“They want something new. They want something different. And we are on a path that just continues. Where were we just 12 years ago? An $11 trillion national debt. Where are we now? Almost three times that. Both parties share blame in that. We have to bring that under control. You bring that under control not just by changing the rules of an institution but by changing the leadership,” Biggs said.
“I believe if you want to make change, you have to make change. Maintaining the status quo is not an option today.”
Jan 05, 2:18 PM EST
Nominations read out for 8th round of voting
The eighth round of speaker voting began on Thursday after Kevin McCarthy, Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Byron Donalds, R-Fla., were again nominated.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., put for McCarthy as speaker favored by a majority of the GOP conference, saying he would be different from past Republican speakers and mentioning several of the Californian’s critics by name.
“I vouched to my community that Kevin will do as he has promised. He will give us the opportunity to right to course,” Mast said.
Rep. Kathleen Clark, D-Mass., nominated Jeffries, the Democratic leader, while panning Republican opposition to policies on guns, insulin costs and more.
“This intraparty fight that the American people have been drawn into is imperiling our national security. It will imperil the ability of this government to deliver basic services. It is imperiling our jobs and our responsibility to serve our constituents. But it is also entirely predictable. They’re failing to convene Congress today, but for years they have failed to deliver their votes for the American people,” Clark said.
And Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who nominated Donalds, the GOP protest nominee against McCarthy, said it was necessary to change Congress’ leadership in order to change policies.
“They want something new. They want something different. And we are on a path that just continues. Where were we just 12 years ago? An $11 trillion national debt. Where are we now? Almost three times that. Both parties share blame in that. We have to bring that under control. You bring that under control not just by changing the rules of an institution but by changing the leadership,” Biggs said.
“I believe if you want to make change, you have to make change. Maintaining the status quo is not an option today.”
Jan 05, 1:50 PM EST
McCarthy tells ABC he’s ‘confident’ solution will come as he faces another defeat
As he barreled toward a seventh defeat on Thursday, McCarthy told ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott that he was still confident his party would get to a solution to the historic stalemate over speaker. But he insisted he doesn’t “pick the day.”
Scott pressed McCarthy on whether the concessions he made to his opponents were enough.
“Concessions,” he laughed with a smirk.
“I think we’re having good discussions. I think everybody wants to find a solution. And the good thing about it is we worked this all out at the beginning, so the rest of the Congress will be very productive for the American public,” he said.
When asked if he was confident he would get the votes he needed on Thursday, McCarthy responded: “Look, I don’t pick the day. I’m confident we’ll get to the solution. Otherwise, we won’t be successful. So I think everybody, of the members I’ve talked to, have been very productive. They’ve been productive in their discussions, their ideas, and I just feel in these meetings the attitudes of everyone is they want to find a solution. And that’s positive. So I think we’ll get there.”
Pressed on how to convince his critics who don’t trust him to vote for him, McCarthy laughed again.
“Everybody builds trust,” he said.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said he expects another round of voting on Thursday.
-with ABC News’ Katherine Faulders, Gabe Ferris and Allison Pecorin
Jan 05, 1:44 PM EST
McCarthy loses 7th round, Gaetz votes for Trump
McCarthy on Thursday lost another election for speaker, failing to pick up any votes despite making new concessions to the conservative GOP rebels opposing his bid.
McCarthy received 201 votes in the seventh round — the same number he received in the three votes held on Wednesday.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., again saw the most support with 212 votes from the Democratic caucus. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., received 19 votes as the GOP’s protest nominee against McCarthy.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a leading opponent of McCarthy, voted for Donald Trump for House speaker. This is the first time Trump has received a vote. The former president, weighing in on the speaker battle, has thrown his support behind McCarthy.
One lawmaker, Indiana Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz, voted present.
Jan 05, 12:38 PM EST
7th round of voting underway
Members are currently voting for a seventh time to elect a speaker of the House.
The matchup is the same as the previous three rounds: McCarthy is facing Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Rep. Byron Donalds.
The results will show whether McCarthy’s gained any support after offering new concessions to his critics.
“People ask me, ‘What is the end game? How does this end?’ The answer to this question is that this is a dynamic process. All of the decisions on this floor result from the coming together of minds, one way or another,” Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., said as he nominated Donalds. “This is the people’s business. We will resolve the people’s business.”
Jan 05, 12:34 PM EST
Freshman John James nominates Kevin McCarthy for speaker
Freshman Rep. John James, D-Mich., nominated House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Calif., for speaker as the third day of voting got underway.
James compared the vote to that of 1856, when it took months to elect a speaker — but boasted that McCarthy would emerge victorious.
“The leading Republican nominee won then, and the leading Republican nominee will win again today,” he said.
James conceded that “we’re stuck at a malaise, at an impasse, and we will stay here,” but insisted that McCarthy deserved the speakership after Republicans won the House majority.
“You don’t fire a guy who’s winning,” he said, before urging Republicans to accept the victory.
“We need to learn how to win.”
Jan 05, 9:27 AM EST
McCarthy makes new offer to defectors amid speakership showdown
There is now an offer on the table from McCarthy to the small but influential group of hard-line conservatives opposing his bid for speaker, sources familiar with discussions told ABC News.
The Republican leader, who has now notched six successive losses for speaker, has proposed a new round of key concessions that includes making it easier for members to remove him as speaker.
McCarthy’s offer, if approved by the full GOP conference on the floor in the rules package, would make it so a single member from either party could trigger an up-or-down simple majority vote on whether to oust the speaker. This is down from the threshold of five members McCarthy initially agreed to.
It’s unclear if the offer will make a difference, as some hard-line conservatives are digging in against McCarthy. The House is set to reconvene at noon today.
He’s also offered to put more members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus on the House Rules Committee and votes on legislation his opponents have been pushing for, including term limits for members of Congress and border security.
The group of conservative rebels who’ve opposed him are meeting this morning to consider the offer and plot their strategy going forward.
Jan 04, 9:38 PM EST
McCarthy sounds undeterred: ‘We talk until we get this done’
Leaving the chamber after it adjourned for the night on Wednesday, McCarthy — surrounded by a phalanx of security and a mob of reporters — initially joked and razzed a reporter he’s known for more than a decade. He seemingly celebrated a razor-thin GOP vote to adjourn the chamber after another day of unsuccessful attempts to elect him speaker.
He also said “continual votes,” like they been having since Tuesday, are unproductive, instead touting the evening’s closed-door talks as the way forward.
McCarthy asked the reporter, John Bresnahan, “Club for Growth — is that movement for you? You just saw a vote on the floor that the conference voted together on?”
McCarthy was referring to a newly announced deal between a political action committee aligned with him and Club for Growth, another major conservative group.
Bresnahan jokingly replied of the successful adjournment vote, “You’re very proud of that.”
“Hey, I crawl before I walk and walk before I run, and I felt as though we had a very good discussion,” McCarthy said, adding, “I think what you should gauge, being able to do that vote, [is] that the discussions are going well but that doesn’t mean they’re done. That doesn’t mean anything on that. But it’s just in that realm.”
Another reporter asked, “What happens between now and noon tomorrow [when the House returns]?”
“We talk until we get this done,” McCarthy said.
Bresnahan asked if there would be votes tomorrow, to which McCarthy replied: “People know where everybody’s at. These votes don’t really change at all. So I mean, that’s fine. I think these discussions help that. I think from this aspect of seeing the vote here — people want to spend their time discussing than being on the floor.”
A reporter asked if McCarthy has asked Byron Donalds, a GOP protest candidate, to drop out. McCarthy said, “No. No.”
-ABC News’ Trish Turner
Jan 04, 8:54 PM EST
House narrowly agrees to adjourn ’til Thursday after another day of failed votes
The motion to adjourn that was introduced shortly after the House returned from its Wednesday afternoon break passed by a narrow 216-214 vote. The chamber will return at noon on Thursday, presumably for more speaker votes.
Republicans had pushed for the adjournment, while Democrats and four Republicans opposed it, with some Democrats shouting for the clerk to stop the vote while the “no” votes were ahead.
The move to end for the night came after McCarthy held a closed-door meeting with detractors trying to block him from winning the speaker’s gavel. The meeting yielded no deal, but McCarthy said progress was made.
The vote to adjourn marked the climax of a second day of historic failed speaker votes — the first time in a century it has taken more than one round to pick a speaker.
Jan 04, 8:20 PM EST
Lawmakers gather after afternoon break, try to adjourn until Thursday
Lawmakers gathered Wednesday around 8 p.m. in the House after their afternoon adjournment and swiftly launched into a vote to adjourn again until Thursday at noon.
The House clerk asked for a voice vote, with Democrats then pressing for an individual counting of the votes, which is underway.
The effort to adjourn comes after McCarthy said progress had been made with the group of GOP critics blocking him the speakership but that there was no path yet to a firm deal.
Jan 04, 8:02 PM EST
McCarthy says 7th speaker vote would not yet be ‘productive’
Leaving a closed-door meeting during the House’s break from voting for a speaker on Wednesday, McCarthy said progress had been made but that there’s no deal yet and he doesn’t think another vote Wednesday night would be “productive.”
McCarthy, the Republican leader, has so far been blocked from the speakership by 20 members of his party repeatedly voting for other candidates — now across six rounds of voting over two days.
“I think it’s probably best to let people work through this more. I don’t think a vote tonight is productive. Let people work a little more,” McCarthy said after leaving the meeting with critics seeking to stop him from winning the speakership.
McCarthy said that while he didn’t have a deal in hand after meeting with the rebels, he insisted there was movement.
–ABC News’ Will Steakin, Lalee Ibssa and Gabe Ferris
Jan 04, 5:53 PM EST
Sources say House Republicans discuss ‘nuclear option’: Lower vote threshold to be speaker
As McCarthy’s quest to become speaker of the House continues to fall short, some of his allies are exploring a radical idea: lowering the threshold needed to be elected.
Under current House rules, a candidate needs an outright majority of all members voting to be elected speaker. With 433 members voting so far — and one member voting “present,” which doesn’t affect the total — that means McCarthy has repeatedly fallen far short of the 217 currently needed to win a majority.
The rules, however, can be changed: With a simple majority vote, the House could decide to allow a speaker to be elected with a plurality, or whoever has the most votes when no one has a majority. This has happened before, but very rarely.
It’s called the “nuclear option” because it would force anti-McCarthy voters to face a stark choice: vote for him or watch Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries get elected instead. After all, Jeffries has received 212 votes in every single round so far and the most McCarthy has received has been 203.
But would those 20 renegade Republicans continue to vote against McCarthy if doing so would result in electing a Democrat as speaker? Advocates of the option say the change would call the critics’ bluff and force them to vote for McCarthy or take the blame for ceding control of the House to Democrats.
According to two McCarthy allies in the House, the idea is being discussed among House Republicans. They believe Democrats would support the rules change.
One influential Republican voice, however, told ABC News he opposes the idea.
“I know it is an idea that has been floating around,” incoming House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said. “I’d be opposed it.”
He added: “I know Hakeem would like, but I don’t.”
-ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl
Jan 04, 5:00 PM EST
State spokesperson on House speaker vote: ‘Democracy at work’
While the State Department does not frequently weigh in on matters of domestic politics, spokesperson Ned Price on Wednesday afternoon directly addressed the tumult on Capitol Hill, painting a cheerier outlook than President Joe Biden did earlier.
Price was asked what message other countries around the world might take from the prolonged vote for House speaker — the first in a century.
“Our message has never been that democracy is neat or that democracy is seamless in terms of its operations. But what we’re seeing, what the world is seeing, are our democratic institutions at work,” Price said. “They are seeing our democracy at work.”
“Democracy isn’t always without its complications. But when processes are followed, institutions are respected, ultimately the outcome is one that everyone can get behind.”
Reporters asked Price whether the redundant, and so far fruitless, votes in the House — which is keeping the chamber in limbo — might give the impression of an inefficient governing system and if the first failed speaker vote in 100 years was an indicator that U.S. democracy was weakening.
“Look, I’m not going to characterize the U.S. political system,” Price said. “I will just say that there is a process that is being hued to right now by elected lawmakers. That in itself is a testament to the functioning of democracy, even if that functioning may be taking just a little bit longer than it has in the past 100 years or so.”
-ABC News’ Shannon Crawford
Jan 04, 5:06 PM EST
Meet ‘the most famous future member of Congress’
ABC News’ Jay O’Brien caught up with Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., outside of the House floor during the sixth round of votes for speaker — but Gomez wasn’t alone.
He was holding, in a swaddle, who ABC News Live anchor Kyra Phillips called “probably the most famous future member of Congress.”
Gomez had brought along his 4-month-old son Hodge for the votes on Tuesday and Wednesday; photos of the baby had already lit up social media.
“One of the things my wife and I wanted to do is make sure that he was, you know, personable, he got along with people and that he loved people,” Gomez said. “So we started making sure that he was used to it. And then he loved it. He loved being on the floor. Everybody was smiling at him, playing with him … And I think he’s gotten more votes for speaker than I have, maybe even Kevin McCarthy.”
Gomez called his son “my legacy, and I think all kids are our legacy. So I realized I wanted to bring him to the [House] floor to have him witness history, but also to recognize that he is what we’re fighting for. He represents the millions of kids that don’t have the privilege to be on the floor.”
O’Brien noted how well behaved Hodge was in the bustling chamber. Hodge had no comment but seemed to bob his head in response.
Of the news of the day, Gomez said he does not believe any Democrats will break ranks to vote for McCarthy, who has so far failed to unify the GOP majority to vote for him as speaker.
Jan 04, 4:36 PM EST
House adjourns until 8 p.m.
With the Republican conference still divided between a pro-McCarthy majority and 20 anti-McCarthy members, the House has chosen to adjourn until 8 p.m.
The motion from Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., was adopted by voice vote, though Democrats appeared staunchly opposed to the break — but did not call for a recorded vote.
Shortly before adjournment, McCarthy told reporters “we’re gonna break in a little then go meet” when asked what was next after the sixth failed vote.
Jan 04, 4:21 PM EST
McCarthy loses speaker vote for the sixth time
McCarthy, for the sixth time in two days, has failed to get enough votes to become the next speaker of the House.
The vote count for this round was unchanged from the previous two rounds: McCarthy won 201 votes, Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries won 212 votes and Rep. Byron Donalds, the current GOP protest candidate against McCarthy, won 20 votes.
Indiana Republican Victoria Spartz also voted “present” for the third time.
Jan 04, 3:56 PM EST
McCarthy says: ‘We’re gonna break … then go meet’
McCarthy is likely to continue negotiating into Wednesday night, after two days of failed speaker votes, and ABC News has learned that he is working to set up talks to attempt to come to an agreement with the group of 20 voting against him.
The logistics of such talks are still being nailed down — and according to people close to him, there is no singular leader of this group of 20.
When this will happen is unclear. Democrats and some Republicans have not yet wanted to adjourn the House, meaning they do not have the votes for adjourning and then continuing negotiations.
Off the House floor during the sixth round of voting, which McCarthy looked set to lose as well, he told reporters that “we’re gonna break in a little then go meet” when asked what’s next. He did not give any other specifics.
The House on Tuesday afternoon adjourned for the day after three rounds of votes, and they could repeat that pattern on Wednesday.
McCarthy has already made some major concessions to his critics without winning their support. He has agreed to lower the threshold to five members to force a vote to remove the speaker — known as a motion to vacate the chair.
Some anti-McCarthy members want this threshold to be lowered to one member.
Others have said that they want more responsibilities on the the panel charged with placing members on committees — known as the steering committee — and have proposed giving more members of the House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee designated seats on it.
McCarthy would likely only agree to this if he knew he was able to flip enough votes.
Former congressman Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party in 2019 and became the first member of Congress to call for Donald Trump to be impeached, is also present on the House floor.
He spoke to reporters, saying he’s here to pitch himself as a consensus speaker candidate if he’s needed and said he plans to speak to members about it. (This is a long shot bid, although the speaker does not need to be a current member of Congress.)
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin
Jan 04, 4:01 PM EST
Perry is latest McCarthy critic to nominates Donalds
Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., the chair of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, nominated Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., for speaker in the sixth round of voting.
“He has accomplished many things. He is a man of faith, he is a family man, he is a businessman … he has come from the school of hard knocks,” Perry said. “He’s got a record of accomplishing things. He’s got a record of being on the right side. He is respected. He is trusted.”
Perry also took a swipe at GOP leader McCarthy and his allies, who have suggested the Californian is responsible for heralding in the new Republican majority.
“I think the person that has done the most to make this fabulous, this wonderful Republican majority, is Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi and her policies. That’s what has achieved this majority here,” he said.
Donalds is so far earning 20 votes from Republicans in each round. He initially voted for McCarthy in the early rounds but switched his vote, saying McCarthy couldn’t win.
Jan 04, 4:32 PM EST
Cammack sparks Dem outrage after suggesting they brought alcohol to the floor
Remarks from Republican Rep. Kat Cammack suggesting Democrats brought alcohol into the chamber caused an outcry from the party shortly before the sixth round of speaker voting began.
“Diversity of thought is a good thing. But they want us divided. They want us to fight each other. That much has been made clear by the popcorn and blankets and alcohol that has come in over there,” she said as she was nominating McCarthy.
Some Democrats shouted back “take down her words!” — referring to a request to have her comment formally challenged and then stricken — and “make her apologize!”
Many members were also heard vocally reacting, including yelling objections.
Clerk Cheryl Johnson then asked “all members-elect to abide by the established decorum of the House” while nominating candidates for speaker.
Jan 04, 3:22 PM EST
House setting up sixth vote: ‘It’s Groundhog Day’
The House is moving full steam ahead with a sixth round of voting on Wednesday.
“Well, it’s Groundhog Day, again,” Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., said as she began her nomination speech for McCarthy.
“To all Americans watching right now, I want to tell you we hear you, we hear you,” Cammack said. “And we will get this right. No matter how messy this process is, we will emerge better for having been through this because nothing great ever comes easy.”.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York was again nominated by his party, with California Rep. Pete Aguilar again giving the speech.
Jan 04, 3:21 PM EST
Biden jokes that a reporter has just been chosen as speaker
President Joe Biden joked to a reporter outside of Air Force One on Wednesday afternoon that “I’ve got good news for you: They just elected you speaker.”
But in a more substantive comment, he again repeated his concerns about how the House will be able to operate given Republican in-fighting.
“Well obviously I am,” he said, when asked if he was concerned about the dangers of the House not being functional.
“I’s embarrassing for the country. I mean literally … that’s the reality, that to have a Congress that can’t function, is just embarrassing,” he said. “We’re the greatest nation in the world, how can that be? And we’ve had a lot of trouble … with the attacks on our institutions already. And that’s what worries me more than anything else.”
-ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky
Jan 04, 2:46 PM EST
McCarthy loses fifth vote for speaker
McCarthy has lost the fifth round of voting for speaker.
The vote count was the same as the previous round: McCarthy received 201 votes, Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries received 212 votes and Rep. Byron Donalds, the latest protest nominee from a faction of GOP lawmakers, received 20 votes.
Indiana Republican Victoria Spartz again voted “present.”
Jan 04, 2:37 PM EST
Boebert calls on McCarthy to withdraw
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., a firebrand conservative and McCarthy foe — while nominating Rep. Byron Donalds in the fifth round of voting — said McCarthy does not have the votes to prevail and should withdraw.
She also said that former President Donald Trump, who has backed McCarthy, should now also call on McCarthy to end his bid..
“The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that sir, you do not have the votes and it’s time to withdraw.”
Other members booed her as she concluded her remarks.
Jan 04, 1:58 PM EST
5th round of voting underway
The House wasted no time in starting up a fifth round of voting for speaker after Kevin McCarthy’s latest loss.
Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, stood up to nominate McCarthy shortly after the House clerk announced the vote count for the fourth round, during which McCarthy lost another supporter.
“Can we take a win every now and then? And give hope to the forgotten men and women of America, who no longer believe this place, this people’s house?” Davidson said.
Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar again nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert stood up to again nominate Florida Rep. Byron Donalds.
Jan 04, 1:55 PM EST
Who is Byron Donalds, latest protest nominee against McCarthy?
Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds was nominated on Wednesday as the latest protest nominee from within the GOP as leader Kevin McCarthy continues to struggle to win a majority to be elected speaker.
Who is Donalds?
Rep. Chip Roy, who nominated Donalds, called him a “dear friend, a solid conservative and, most importantly, a family man.”
Donalds’ campaign team has described him as a “Trump-supporting, liberty-loving, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment Black man.”
Roy noted in his nominating speech on Wednesday that, because Democrats are also nominating their leader, Hakeem Jeffries, “For the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed in nomination for speaker of the House.” That prompted a standing ovation from the chamber.
Donalds, like Jeffries, grew up in Brooklyn but went to college in Florida and built a career there in the financial and insurance industries, according to his House biography.
He was first elected to the House in 2020 after serving as a state representative and now represents Florida’s 19th Congressional District.
He and his wife have three sons.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson and Benjamin Siegel
Jan 04, 1:22 PM EST
McCarthy fails to gain any support, loses speaker vote for 4th time
Kevin McCarthy has added another loss to his bid for House speaker.
McCarthy received 201 votes in the 4th and latest round, his least amount of support so far. On Tuesday, he had 203 votes in the first two rounds followed by 202 votes in the third round.
Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries netted 212 votes in this round. Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, nominated as an alternative to McCarthy, received 20 votes.
One member, Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted present — a departure from her three previous votes for McCarthy. Spartz’s present vote prompted cheers from McCarthy’s critics.
Jan 04, 1:19 PM EST
McCarthy, Pelosi on today’s vote as they headed to House floor
Kevin McCarthy, when walking to the House floor just moments before what appears to be another failed bid to be elected speaker, told reporters he remains just as determined to win the gavel.
But there’s still no strategy emerging. Asked how he gets to 218 votes today, he said, “We’re going to continue to talk; we’ll find an agreement, where we all get together, and we’ll work through this and we’ll get it done.”
McCarthy should not expect Democrats to come to the rescue, at least not according to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“This is a problem of their own making,” Pelosi told reporters.
“Don’t put this at the Democrats’ doorstep – this is their problem, and their lack of respect for this institution; their lack of respect for the responsibility that we all have to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and get the job done for the American people,” Pelosi said as she walked to the floor.
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
Jan 04, 12:55 PM EST
McCarthy appears headed for another defeat as Donalds nets critical votes
Rep. Byron Donalds already has 13 votes for speaker — apparently enough to defeat McCarthy’s bid to be speaker for a fourth time.
The vote is ongoing, and the final results are yet to be announced.
Jan 04, 12:40 PM EST
Standing ovation from both sides over Donalds nomination
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, pointed out that this is the first time two Black Americans have been nominated for speaker.
His remarks were met with a standing ovation from both Republicans and Democrats.
“However … we do not seek to judge people by the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character,” Roy said after the applause quieted. “Byron Donalds is a good man, raised by a single mom, who moved past adversity, became a Christian man at the age of 21 and has devoted his life to advancing the cause for his family and for this country. And he has done it admirably.”
Democrats nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who has already made history as the first Black man elected to lead a party in Congress. He will serve as the Democratic caucus leader for the next two years.
The fourth vote for speaker is ongoing.
Jan 04, 11:08 AM EST
GOP leadership in talks to adjourn after House reconvenes at noon
Republican leadership is in talks to adjourn the House right after it reconvenes at noon to resume the votes for speaker, sources familiar with the discussions told ABC News.
Some Kevin McCarthy allies have been pushing for the delay, so they can continue to engage in talks behind the scenes.
The House adjourned Tuesday after three rounds of failed votes to elect McCarthy.
It’s not yet clear if there will be any objections to adjourning. There was no roll call vote to adjourn the House Tuesday, but any member can request one.
If there is a roll call vote, which is likely, 218 votes are needed to adjourn the House.
-ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott, Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin
Jan 04, 11:14 AM EST
Biden calls GOP fight over speakership ’embarrassing’
Asked on his way out of the White House about the GOP standoff in the House, President Joe Biden said electing a speaker is “not a good look” to the rest of the world.
“That’s not my problem,” Biden offered reporters. “I just think it’s a little embarrassing, that it’s taking so long and the way that they’re dealing with each other. And the rest of the world is looking, they’re looking at can we get our act together.”
“For the first time in 100 years, we can’t move,” he added later on. “It’s not a good look, it’s not a good thing. This is the United States of America, and I hope they get their act together.”
Biden was on his way to highlight improvements to a bridge that connects Cincinnati and Covington, Kentucky, to tout an investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law alongside Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Jan 04, 10:44 AM EST
McCarthy arrives on Capitol Hill: ‘I think we’ll get to 218’
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy arrived on Capitol Hill moments ago and entered the House speaker’s office, although he’s still fighting for the votes to take the position. McCarthy opponent Rep. Matt Gaetz has called him a “squatter” in the office.
McCarthy and his security pushed through a swarm of reporters and photographers who sprinted up the stairs to chase him.
Asked by ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott if he made any progress, McCarthy said, “I think we’ll get to 218.”
Asked by another reporter what the game plan is, he answered, “same as yesterday.”
Jan 04, 10:48 AM EST
Trump repeats endorsement of McCarthy for speaker
Former President Donald Trump again called on Republicans to support McCarthy as the House remains without a speaker and Republicans appear in disarray.
“Some really good conversations took place last night, and it’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY …” Trump posted on Truth Social this morning. “Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB – JUST WATCH!”
The post follows McCarthy telling reporters Tuesday night that the former president had reiterated his support for him. In an earlier interview with NBC News, Trump declined to say whether he supported McCarthy.
Among those Republicans who did not vote for McCarthy are some of Trump’s closest supporters in Congress, including Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
It comes almost two years to the day that McCarthy, on the House floor, said Trump “bears responsibility” for the “attack on Congress by mob rioters” on Jan. 6, before flocking to Mar-a-Lago to see Trump three weeks later.
Jan 03, 9:36 PM EST
Speaker vote expected to resume Wednesday
A fourth round of voting for the House speaker is certain to resume after the chamber gathers again on Wednesday at noon.
Members-elect adjourned until then shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, after three rounds of voting failed to elect a speaker.
Republicans, who hold the majority, did not coalesce behind their chosen leader, McCarthy, with roughly 20 lawmakers choosing other candidates.
Walking off the House floor earlier Tuesday, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told reporters that the conference wants to be unified so they can start on long-promised investigations.
He said he does not want to be the speaker, despite the backing of some McCarthy defectors — he said he wants to chair the judiciary committee.
Jan 03, 5:46 PM EST
Frustration was growing as voting wound down
House lawmakers adjourned until Tuesday as some of them grew restless following the three rounds of unsuccessful voting for a new speaker.
Signs of frustration mounted during the third vote, with Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., saying he was backing McCarthy “because I’m interested in governing.”
The voting took place as lawmakers had family and friends in town, and it was unclear at the time how deep into the night voting would go.
McCarthy had vowed to keep voting until there was a speaker, but the motion to adjourn shortly before 6 p.m. drew little opposition.
-ABC News’ Will Steakin and Benjamin Siegel
Jan 03, 5:35 PM EST
House adjourns, will resume Wednesday
The House overwhelmingly chose late Tuesday afternoon to adjourn until noon on Wednesday after a motion from Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., was adopted by voice vote
That decision came after three unsuccessful rounds saw no member-elect chosen as speaker, including McCarthy.
It’s the first time in a century that the speaker vote has taken multiple rounds.
Jan 03, 5:39 PM EST
McCarthy defector calls for ‘huddle’ to sort out speaker vote
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who changed his vote for speaker in the third round, said on social media that “continuous votes aren’t working.”
Donalds supported McCarthy during the first two rounds of voting, but then switched his choice to Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. On Twitter, Donalds indicated that he does not believe McCarthy has the support to ultimately become speaker.
“Our conference needs to recess and huddle and find someone or work out the next steps…but these continuous votes aren’t working for anyone,” Donalds wrote.
“When the dust settles, we will have a Republican Speaker, now is the time for our conference to debate and come to a consensus.”
“Democracy is messy at times, but we will be ready to govern on behalf of the American people. Debate is healthy,” he added.
Jan 03, 5:07 PM EST
McCarthy loses a supporter — and 3rd round of speaker vote
In the third round of voting, 20 Republican lawmakers voted against McCarthy for speaker — the highest amount so far. Those votes went to Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
In the first two rounds, 19 Republicans voted for a different candidate. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., voted for McCarthy two times before changing his vote to Jordan.
McCarthy received 202 votes in the latest round, making it the third time he’s trailed Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Democrats have already elected Jeffries to be their caucus leader in the new Congress.
Jan 03, 4:33 PM EST
McCarthy to ABC: ‘Their secret candidate nominated me’
“We stay in until we win,” McCarthy said as he headed back onto the House floor ahead of the third round.
After huddling with Reps. Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, Patrick McHenry and a few others off the floor, McCarthy told ABC News on his way back to the House floor that the prolonged vote was exactly what he was expecting to happen.
“This isn’t about me; this is about the conference now,” he said.
“If anybody wants to earn something, committee slots or others, you go through the conference to do that. You don’t get it by leveraging people. It just doesn’t happen,” he added.
McCarthy disputed that he hasn’t shown any progress throughout the afternoon.
“They put [Rep.] Jim Jordan [up as a candidate for speaker]. Remember how they all said they had a secret candidate. Their secret candidate nominated me, so where do they go now?”
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Allison Pecorin
Jan 03, 4:34 PM EST
McCarthy gets new defector in third round of voting
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., switched his vote for speaker after voting for McCarthy in the first two rounds.
Donalds, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, backed Rep. Jim Jordan in the third round of voting. If every candidate who voted for Jordan on the second ballot does so again, the Ohioan will get at least 20 votes.
Jan 03, 4:37 PM EST
Historic 3rd speaker vote underway in the House
Ahead of the House entering a third vote for the speakership, Rep. Pete Aguilar again nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for Democrats, prompting “Hakeem” chants from their side of the chamber, as Republicans remain in disarray.
“For unity in Congress and progress in our country, Democrats are united behind Hakeem Jeffries. I recommend Hakeem Jeffries as our speaker,” Aguilar said to applause.
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas nominated Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, again, despite Jordan losing in prior votes, his saying he didn’t want the position and asking Republicans to unite around McCarthy.
“Now, Jim has said he doesn’t want that nomination, and Jim has been down here nominating Kevin, and I respect that. Again, I have no personal animus toward Kevin,” Roy said. “But we do not have the tools or the leadership yet to stop the swamp from rolling over the American people. Jim has been doing it, he has a track record for doing that, and for those reasons, I’m nominating Jim Jordan for speaker of the House.”
Jan 03, 4:15 PM EST
Scalise says McCarthy critics are obstructing legislation
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., McCarthy’s No. 2, slammed McCarthy’s critics as obstructionists to legislative efforts to tackle issues like immigration and energy reserves.
“We all came here to get things done. To get big things done. To solve the problems. And I hope when we get through today that all the members on both sides of the aisle will get together to solve the problems,” he said when nominating McCarthy before the third round of voting.
However, he said, “we can’t start fixing those problems until we elect Kevin McCarthy” as speaker.
Scalise’s speech came after Jordan nominated McCarthy. Both men have been floated as potential alternatives if McCarthy is unable to win the majority needed to clinch the speakership.
Jan 03, 4:00 PM EST
Scalise seems to be drafting McCarthy nomination speech
ABC News’ Ben Siegel, on the House floor, spotted Steve Scalise seemingly drafting a nomination speech for Kevin McCarthy.
This would mark another twist as Republicans still struggle to coalesce around any single candidate.
Jan 03, 3:58 PM EST
White House ‘willing to work’ with GOP in new Congress but avoids weighing in on leadership fight
After two failed votes to select a House speaker on Capitol Hill, the White House said it is “certainly not going to insert ourselves” into that process but are
“looking forward to working” with the new Republican-controlled House.
Asked by ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Mary Bruce what the president wants to work on with Republicans once the House GOP leadership is in place, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre didn’t offer any specifics on what policies it wants to be first on the agenda.
“He’s willing to work with Republicans who are willing to continue to deliver for the American people,” she said. “He is very optimistic on what lies ahead and how we are going to move our country forward.”
And when asked whether it may be more difficult to work with Republicans after the ongoing leadership fight, Jean-Pierre repeated President Joe Biden’s optimism and noted bipartisan legislation that was passed in his first two years.
-ABC News’ Justin Gomez
Jan 03, 3:31 PM EST
Jordan says he told Gaetz not to nominate him as speaker
Right after Rep. Jim Jordan spoke on the House floor following the first vote — to support McCarthy in the next round — Rep. Matt Gaetz turned the tables and enthusiastically nominated Jordan to be speaker.
But Jordan told ABC News afterward that he told Matt Gaetz not to nominate him. Jordan would go on to pick up 19 votes in the second ballot.
Gaetz had said weeks ago he thought Jordan would be a good choice for speaker.
-ABC News’ Will Steakin and Katherine Faulders
Jan 03, 3:27 PM EST
McCarthy loses 2nd ballot as 19 Republicans vote for Jordan
Kevin McCarthy has fallen short of the votes needed to win House speaker for a second time.
Once again, 19 Republicans voted against McCarthy — this time unanimously backing Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Jordan had urged his colleagues to back McCarthy as he nominated the California congressman for speaker. But Rep. Matt Gaetz stood up to nominate Jordan, calling him the “most talented, hardest working member of the Republican conference.”
The House vote was identical to the first round: McCarthy again won 203 votes compared to Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ 212 votes.
Jan 03, 2:45 PM EST
Jordan wins enough votes to deny McCarthy speakership in 2nd vote
Enough Republicans have already voted for Jordan to deny McCarthy the speakership in a second ballot.
Just after Jordan rose to renominate McCarthy before the start of the second round of voting, nine Republicans backed the Ohioan before vote counting even got halfway through the alphabet.
Jordan was able to flip a number of Republicans who opposed McCarthy on the first ballot but didn’t vote for him, including Biggs, who voted for himself during the initial round of voting.
Jan 03, 2:31 PM EST
Gaetz nominates Jordan after Jordan urges colleagues to back McCarthy
After Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio took to the floor to encourage Republicans to back Rep. Kevin McCarthy for speaker, Rep. Matt Gaetz got up to nominate Jordan for the position.
“I rise to nominate the most talented, hardest working member of the Republican conference, who just gave a speech with more vision than we have ever heard from the alternative,” the Florida congressman said.
“Jim Jordan is humble. Perhaps today, humble to a fault,” Gaetz continued. “Maybe the right person for the job of speaker of the House isn’t someone who wants it so bad. Maybe the right person for the job of speaker of the House isn’t someone who has sold shares of themselves for more than a decade to get it.”
In the first round of voting, Jordan received six votes.
Jan 03, 2:28 PM EST
Jim Jordan nominates McCarthy in 2nd round of voting
After receiving six votes of his own on the first ballot, Rep. Jim Jordan nominated Kevin McCarthy in the second round of voting for House speaker.
“I rise to nominate Kevin McCarthy for speaker of the House,” Jordan said, prompting applause from several Republican members.
“We need to rally around him, come together, and deal with these three things, because this is what the people sent us here to do,” he added, ticking through Republican priorities in the new Congress.
“We owe it to them, the American people, the good people of this great country, to step forward to come together, get a speaker elected so we can address these three things. I hope you’ll vote for Kevin McCarthy and that’s why I’m proud to nominate him for speaker of the House,” Jordan said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Bob Good, one of the original “Never Kevin” members, said off the House floor that he plans to vote for Jordan on the second ballot despite Jordan’s call to support McCarthy — and expects other detractors will follow.
-ABC News’ Will Steakin
Jan 03, 2:20 PM EST
‘Optics are terrible’: ABC News’ Jonathan Karl on GOP speaker battle
ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl weighed in after the first ballot vote for House speaker.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy fell well short of the majority needed to clinch the position. He received 203 votes, while Democrat Rep. Hakeem Jeffries received 212. Nineteen lawmakers voted for someone else.
“The optics for Republicans is terrible,” Karl told ABC’s David Muir following the vote.
“They’ve taken control, they’ve won control of the House by a narrow majority, and [in the] first act of this Republican House, more votes went to the liberal Democrat candidate for speaker than went for Kevin McCarthy. Think about that David,” Karl said.
Jan 03, 2:13 PM EST
McCarthy to ABC News: Vote against him ‘exactly what we thought it’d be’
McCarthy told ABC News, after stepping off the House floor, that the current vote against him was “exactly what we thought it’d be.”
McCarthy added that this vote could go on for days and that “we got a number of members who are trying to fight for their own personal items” instead of for the country.
When asked how he what he can do to persuade the large number of members who voted against him by voting for others, McCarthy said he needs to convince them that “they don’t win gavels by trying to threaten or leverage somebody … I don’t think that’s what their constituents elected.”
-ABC News’ Will Steakin
Jan 03, 1:54 PM EST
McCarthy falls short in first speaker vote
After the first round of voting, no member obtained the 218 votes needed to become House speaker, but Democrat Hakeem Jeffries earned more votes than Kevin McCarthy — on the first day of a new Republican-controlled House.
Jeffries received 212 votes to McCarthy’s 203. Far-right Republican Andy Biggs of Arizona received 10 votes, and there were nine votes for others, including six for Rep. Jim Jordan, and, in a surprise move, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas voted for Florida’s Byron Donalds.
Nineteen Republicans broke from McCarthy, who could only afford to lose four, marking a stunning defeat by 15 votes. Despite having a majority this Congress, McCarthy got fewer votes this time than the last time he ran for speaker against Nancy Pelosi.
For the first time since 1923 — and the first time since floor proceedings have been televised — the speaker’s vote appears headed towards a second ballot.
While McCarthy has signaled he’s up for more voting rounds, he faces a steep hurdle in a second vote with so many lawmakers to win over — and the potential for Republicans to nominate another member, such as No. 2 Steve Scalise.
Jan 03, 1:37 PM EST
McCarthy gets quick standing ovation after voting for himself
After standing to cast a voice vote for himself, Kevin McCarthy smiled as he got a round of applause from his GOP supporters – even as it appeared that he would lose the first ballot for speaker.
McCarthy faced enough defections from his conference – with some voting for Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona or Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio – to likely not prevail in the first tally.
But the quick standing ovation for McCarthy was both indicative of the support he still has in the House Republican Conference and the challenges of a slim Republican House majority.
Jan 03, 1:41 PM EST
Appears McCarthy will not have votes on first ballot to be elected
The majority of House Republicans applauded when Rep. Elise Stefanik rose to nominate Kevin McCarthy — but more than a dozen, most of them sitting by the center aisle in the second to last row of the chamber, sat on their hands. The applause for McCarthy was hardly thunderous.
And with every vote against McCarthy, the sounds of murmuring in the chamber grew, as it also grew more obvious that McCarthy will not have the votes on the first ballot to be elected speaker.
In contrast, Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., had a sustained standing ovation when he nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY. Once the applause died down, Aguilar declared, “Today, House Democrats are united” — prompting even louder and more sustained applause from Democrats — while McCarthy sat silently and stone-faced on the other side of the aisle.
As McCarthy entered the rear of the chamber through the center door about 15 minutes earlier, he did so quietly and with little fanfare. Most people on the floor seemed not to notice. He walked all the way down to the area in front of the clerk before somebody went to talk to him, and it was a staffer for Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.
-ABC News’ Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl
Jan 03, 1:00 PM EST
Tense roll call vote begins
A tense roll call vote for speaker is beginning.
In alphabetical order, members are being asked to say aloud whom they are voting for as speaker.
-ABC News’ Benjamin Siegel
Jan 03, 12:53 PM EST
Aguilar declares Democrats ‘united’ behind Hakeem Jeffries
Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., has nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York to be the House minority leader.
Jeffries has made history as the first Black leader to be elected leader a congressional caucus. He was elected by Democrats in late November after Rep. Nancy Pelosi announced she was stepping down from the role.
“Today, madam clerk, House Democrats are united by a speaker who will people over politics,” Aguilar declared, an apparent dig at Republicans as the party struggles to unite behind a candidate for speaker.
“Hakeem Jeffries has worked his entire life to improve economic opportunity for all people. He’s committed to strengthening the American dream by lowering costs for working families, building safer communities by taking weapons of war off streets and by creating good-paying jobs in industries of the future.”
“He does not traffic in extremism,” Aguilar continued. “He does not grovel to or make excuses for a twice impeached so-called former president. Madam clerk, he does not bend a knee to everyone who would seek to undermine our democracy because, madam clerk, that’s not what leaders do.”
Jeffries and Pelosi greeted each other on the House floor on Tuesday morning.
Jan 03, 12:46 PM EST
Stefanik introduces McCarthy as GOP nominee for speaker
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., introduced Kevin McCarthy on the House floor as the GOP nominee for speaker.
Stefanik, a McCarthy ally, touted the Californian’s efforts to bolster House Republicans’ ranks by campaigning for diverse candidates from coast to coast.
“Since the day Kevin was elected as our leader, House Republicans have only gained seats and won,” she said. “Kevin knows what we stand for, he knows when to engage in the fight, and he knows how to build consensus.”
“His relentless effort has yielded an extraordinary House Republican majority,” she added. “Today’s House Republican Conference is the most diverse Republican conference in our nation’s history.”
And while her speech was mostly focused on building up McCarthy, Stefanik also offered a dig at his detractors, boasting that “Kevin McCarthy has earned this speakership of the ‘People’s House.'”
Jan 03, 12:44 PM EST
Magnetometers at House chamber entrances removed
Ahead of the vote for speaker, the magnetometers placed outside the doors of the House chamber in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol have been removed, as the new GOP majority demanded.
The GOP’s new proposed House rules had called for removing the magnetometers.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders, Will Steakin and Nicole Moeder
Jan 03, 12:33 PM EST
VP Kamala Harris swears in new senators
As House Republicans enter the 118th Congress in disarray over who will hold the speaker’s gavel, the Democrat-controlled Senate opened with Vice President Kamala Harris swearing in new members and those who won reelection in November.
Among the new faces in the chamber are Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman, Alabama’s Katie Britt and Missouri’s Eric Schmitt.
Arizona’s Mark Kelly and Georgia’s Raphael Warnock were sworn in for their first full, six-year terms.
Despite losing majority control in the House, Democrats expanded their advantage in the Senate by one seat.
Jan 03, 10:39 AM EST
McCarthy tells Republicans ‘I earned this job’: Source
In a closed-door meeting with House Republicans, Kevin McCarthy made a last-ditch case for speaker.
“I’m not going to go away. I’m going to stand until the last four friends stand with me,” he told the GOP members, according to a source in the room.
“I earned this job,” McCarthy said. “We earned this majority, and goddammit we are going to win it today.”
Jan 03, 10:33 AM EST
Rep.-elect George Santos arrives near House office
Rep.-elect George Santos, who has faced controversy and national attention for lying about or embellishing details of his background, was spotted by reporters in Congress Tuesday morning.
Santos was walking toward his office in the Longworth House Office Building, accompanied by a staffer, when he stopped and turned the other way once he saw reporters.
He declined to answer most questions, but told ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa he will vote for Kevin McCarthy for speaker.
Santos faced calls for accountability from some Republicans, but not from current Republican House leadership. He has said he will serve out his term in the House.
New members of the House will not be sworn in until a speaker is elected.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie, Lalee Ibssa, and Oren Oppenheim
Jan 03, 10:20 AM EST
McCarthy ready to battle for speaker’s gavel, sources say
As Republicans met behind closed doors ahead of the speaker vote, it appeared Kevin McCarthy still did not have the votes needed to be elected.
Sources close to the Republican leader say he’s ready to battle it out. It could go into multiple rounds of votes — something that hasn’t happened in 100 years — and the floor fight could drag on for hours, if not days. The longest battle for speaker was in 1856, and it took two months and 133 votes to resolve.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, who opposes McCarthy’s bid, has warned, “We may see the cherry blossoms bloom in Washington, D.C. before a speaker is elected.”
All of this overshadows the start of the new Congress where Republicans have a majority in the House for the first time since 2018.
-ABC News’ Rachel Scott
Jan 03, 9:43 AM EST
McCarthy arrives for GOP meeting: ‘We are going to have a good day’
Rep. McCarthy has arrived for a closed-door meeting with his fellow Republicans.
“We are going to have a good day today,” McCarthy said as he walked by reporters, who asked if he had the votes for speaker.
The California congressman then laughed as a reporter asked if he’d support Rep. Steve Scalise for speaker should he fail to get enough votes.
Jan 03, 9:42 AM EST
‘Follow Kevin McCarthy’ sign posted outside speaker’s office
Hours before the vote to elect a new House speaker, a sign has appeared in front of the speaker’s office with the message: “Follow Kevin McCarthy.”
McCarthy was set to shore up more support for his speaker bid in a closed-door meeting with the Republican caucus this morning. He faces opposition from a group of hard-line conservatives, who could sink what is his second attempt to hold the gavel.
The California congressman’s belongings have been brought into the speaker’s suite, but if he doesn’t get enough votes, he’ll have to move out.
Jan 03, 8:52 AM EST
GOP conference to hold last-minute meeting before speaker vote
The House Republican conference will meet behind closed doors at 9:30 a.m., just hours before the speaker vote begins at noon.
While McCarthy might be able to garner more support in a last-ditch appeal, his detractors have boasted that they’ll be able to muster the necessary opposition to block his bid.
Rep. Scott Perry, the chair of the House Freedom Caucus who is leading the group of hard-line conservatives opposing McCarthy’s bid, released a new statement Tuesday morning blasting the California congressman.
“In his 14 years in Republican Leadership, McCarthy has repeatedly failed to demonstrate any desire to meaningfully change the status quo in Washington,” Perry said.
Jan 03, 8:36 AM EST
McCarthy’s rise from California politics to GOP leader
Kevin McCarthy began his career as a staffer to then-Rep. Bill Thomas before chairing the California Young Republicans and later the Young Republican National Federation.
He was first elected to office in 2002, serving in the California state Assembly until 2007, when was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. At the time, he was dubbed one of the “young guns” of the next generation of conservative leadership.
McCarthy tried to become speaker in 2015 but his chance evaporated after resistance from the same kind of conservatives who are trying to block his path Tuesday. When Democrats took control of the House in 2018, McCarthy was elected House minority leader.
Jan 03, 8:26 AM EST
McCarthy’s bid for speaker unclear as new Congress set to begin
Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become the next speaker of the House is still clouded in uncertainty as lawmakers head to Capitol Hill for the first day of the 118th Congress.
McCarthy and his staffers spent the day Monday setting up the speaker’s office but he may have to move his belongings out if he fails to clinch the votes needed to secure the position.
A few dozen members piled into McCarthy’s office throughout the day Monday to go over last-minute strategy. ABC News spotted three McCarthy critics during the afternoon meeting: Reps. Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert and Scott Perry.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a McCarthy supporter, told ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott, “the problem is the people need to realize the art of the deal. They are all Trump supporters, and you can’t be successful if you’re not willing to take the wins when you get them” when asked about those in her party who are trying to tank McCarthy’s bid.
Rep. Jim Jordan, whose name has been floated around as a potential speaker candidate, said he believes McCarthy “can get there.”
McCarthy, however, didn’t directly answer reporter’s questions about how the vote could go, telling them, “I hope you all have a very nice New Year’s” as he exited the Capitol on Monday night.
