Today marked the first day of the 118th Congress of the United States and--something Republicans have been most looking forward to--the first day of the Republican majority being in power. The day's agenda, however, was cut a bit short as the House was unable to elect a Speaker--even at the conclusion of three ballots!
The Republican Party broke a 100 year record when they failed to name a Speaker on the first ballot. The last Speaker to require more than one ballot to secure the position was Frederick Gillett (R-Mass.), who took nine ballots in 1923. The longest duration for a speaker vote was in the mid-1850's when lawmakers took close to two months--and 133 ballots--before naming Natnaniel Banks, also of Massachusetts.
Throughout the House's 234-year history, 14 speaker votes have required more than one ballot; only two of which taking place after 1856--seemingly coinciding with the rise of the two-party system. And with Kevin McCarthy (R-Cal) only coming up with 203 votes--needing 218--on the first ballot, Republicans of the 118th Congress have become the 15, and third since 1856.
The second ballot went similarly to the first. The third ballot, however, showed that the day rendered McCarthy an additional opposing vote from the GOP--up, 20 from 19 in the previous two rounds. All 20 GOP members that oppose McCarthy threw their votes in for Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who himself voted for McCarthy.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) received all Democratic votes for all three ballots.
McCarthy pledged to have a "battle on the floor" for as long as it took to overcome those who oppose him from within his own party and is remaining confident going into Day 2 with the House poised to take a fourth vote when they adjourn at noon.
Those who oppose McCarthy within the GOP have banded together--led by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Bob Good (R-VA), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), and Ralph Norman (R-SC)--as the "Never Kevin Caucus", and they also seem to be standing firm with their opposition as well.
And what about McCarthy's supporters? While Marjorie Taylor Green remains a vocal supporter, former president Trump declined to say whether he'll stand by his man in a phone conversation with NBC News.
“I got everybody calling me wanting my support,” Trump told NBC. “But let’s see what happens and we’ll go — I got everybody calling, wanting my support. That’s all I can say. But we’ll see what happens. We’ll see how it all works out.”
Technically, the House could change the rules, allowing for a simple majority of votes to become the speaker, but this could backfire. Though highly unlikely, dependent on how many votes the NKC are able to pluck from McCarthy, Rep. Jeffries could obtain a majority of the vote. giving control of the House to the Democrats.
Until a speaker is elected, Cheryl Lynn Johnson, the Clerk of the US House of Representatives and Pelosi appointee, will preside over the lower chamber.
The US House of Representatives is adjourned until 12pm EST on Wednesday, and the Senate remains on recess until January 23rd.
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