House Republicans struggled through a second day of futile voting on Wednesday, failing to elect their leader Kevin McCarthy as House speaker or devise a fresh strategy to resolve the political instability that has marred their new majority's beginnings. McCarthy, on the other hand, was not only not giving up but was sounding hopeful after cancelling a nighttime practise. "There is still no deal," he remarked as he exited a lengthy closed-door discussion with key holdouts. "But there has been a lot of progress."
Despite the days of vote after vote, little movement was visible. Republicans attempted to promote McCarthy to the top post for the fourth, fifth, and sixth times as the House fell more into turmoil. But the votes were practically identical, with 20 conservative holdouts still refusing to back him, leaving him far short of the 218 required to win the gavel. In fact, McCarthy's support dropped to 201 as one Republican moved to voting simply present. The Republicans, seeing no easy way out of the political impasse, unexpectedly voted late in the day to adjourn as they anxiously sought an endgame to the mayhem they had created.
"I think people need to work a little more," McCarthy said. "I don't think a vote tonight would make any difference. "But a vote in the future could."
McCarthy, the California Republican, vowed to keep fighting despite the gruelling spectacle, unlike any in modern times, that threw the new majority into tumult a day earlier. Animated private discussions broke out on the chamber floor between McCarthy supporters and detractors searching for an endgame.
"Well, it's Groundhog Day," said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., in nominating McCarthy on the sixth ballot.
She said, "To all Americans watching right now, we hear you. And we will get through this — no matter how messy."
But the right-flank conservatives, led by the Freedom Caucus, "I believe people should work a little harder," McCarthy remarked. "A vote tonight, I don't believe, would make a difference. However, a future vote could change that." McCarthy, a California Republican, resolved to fight on despite the gruelling spectacle that had thrown the new majority into disarray a day earlier. On the Senate floor, heated private debates erupted between McCarthy allies and adversaries looking for a way out. "Well, it's Groundhog Day," Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., remarked of McCarthy's nomination on the sixth ballot. She stated, "We hear you, all Americans who are watching right now. ""And no matter how messy it gets, we'll get through it." However, right-wing conservatives, led by the Freedom Caucus and affiliated with Donald Trump, appeared to be on the rise. The standoff appeared to embolden the Congressional Caucus, which is aligned with Donald Trump; though Trump publicly supported McCarthy,
"This is actually an energising day for America," said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who was chosen three times as an alternative by his conservative colleagues. "There are a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious discussions about how we can wrap this up and pick a speaker." The House convened at midday, but no additional business could be done until the speaker was elected, including swearing in new members, creating committees, handling legislation, and investigating the Biden administration. "I still have the most votes," McCarthy declared at the beginning of the session. "We'll be able to get there at the end of the day." However, the dynamic remained same from Day One, as Democrats re-enlisted their leader, Rep. Hakeem
"This country needs leadership," said Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, noting that it was the first time in history that two Black Americans were nominated for high office, as members from both parties rose to applause. It was the first time in 100 years that a House speaker nominee did not accept the gavel on the first vote, but McCarthy seemed unfazed. Instead, he swore to battle till the end. With Republicans now in control of the House, the disorderly opening to the new Congress portended troubles ahead.
As he left the White House for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, President Joe Biden remarked, "the rest of the world is looking" at the scene on the House floor. "I just think it's really embarrassing long it's taking," Biden stated. "I have no idea" who will win. Tensions rose among the new House majority as their campaign pledges failed to materialise. A speaker's election has not gone to multiple ballots since 1923, and the longest and most exhausting battle for the gavel began in late 1855 and lasted two months, with 133 ballots, during arguments over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War.
It was the first time in 100 years that a House speaker nominee did not accept the gavel on the first vote, but McCarthy seemed unfazed. Instead, he swore to battle till the end. With Republicans now in control of the House, the disorderly opening to the new Congress portended troubles ahead. As he left the White House for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, President Joe Biden remarked, "the rest of the world is staring" at the scene on the House floor.
A new generation of conservative Republicans, many of whom support Trump's Make America Great Again programme, want to upend Washington's status quo and are determined to derail McCarthy's rise without making sacrifices to their ideals. Even Trump's staunchest fans, though, differed on this point. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a staunch Colorado conservative who nominated Donald Trump for the second time, urged the former president to tell McCarthy, "Sir, you do not have the votes, and it is time to withdraw."
Trump had done the opposite earlier in the day, urging Republicans to vote for McCarthy. "Close the deal, take the victory," he posted in all capital letters on his social networking site. "Do not transform a huge victory into a massive and humiliating defeat." As the election dragged on, McCarthy's supporters begged the remaining holdouts to vote for the California Republican. "I think people on both sides are feeling a lot of pressure right now," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma. "So I suppose the word from home is, 'Hey, straighten this out; we don't have time for the petty stuff and egos.'"
Since Republicans won control of the House in the November elections, there has been a standoff over McCarthy. While the Senate is still in Democratic hands, House Republicans are itching to challenge Biden after Democrats controlled both houses of Congress for two years. McCarthy was opposed by the conservative Freedom Caucus, which believes he is not conservative nor tough enough to face Democrats.
McCarthy has already granted to several of the Freedom Caucus' demands for rule changes and other concessions that allow rank-and-file members more influence in the legislative process in order to get support. He's been here before, having dropped out of the contest for Speaker of the House in 2015 after failing to win over conservatives. "Everything is on the table," said ally Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-North Carolina, except having McCarthy stand down. "Absolutely not. That is not an option."
Democrats joyfully nominated Jeffries, the party's new leader, as their candidate for speaker. He received the most votes total (212). McCarthy might lower the threshold required by the rules to have a majority if he could gain 213 votes and then persuade the remaining dissenters to merely vote present. Former House leaders, notably outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Speaker John Boehner, have employed this method in the past when confronted with resistance, gaining the gavel with fewer than 218 votes.
Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, a Republican, voted present on many rounds, but it made no impact in the immediate outcome.
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