October 20, 2023 House Republicans drop Rep Jim Jordan as speaker nominee

Table Of Content

• After meeting of GOP holdouts concludes, it's unclear whether McCarthy has won any of them over yet
• Johnson says he "feels very good" about speaker vote
• McCarthy opponents push Jim Jordan as alternative in second vote for House speaker
• Reps. Bishop, Brecheen become first Republicans to flip to McCarthy
• McCarthy enters GOP Conference meeting as he makes latest plea for speakership support
• McCarthy, House Freedom Caucus negotiations in a 'good spot,' but 'no deal' yet, sources say
• Interim House Speaker McHenry doesn't rule out supporting GOP resolution to expand his powers

Rep.-elect Ken Buck, R-Co., will be absent for the 12th vote for House speaker on Friday. According to a GOP aide, Buck is in Colorado for a medical procedure and will be back in Washington, D.C., later Friday evening. After the House vote to elect a speaker adjourned on Tuesday, the internet went into a frenzy over footage of progressive Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez chatting with Republicans Rep-elect.

After meeting of GOP holdouts concludes, it's unclear whether McCarthy has won any of them over yet

Twenty Republican lawmakers are responsible for the stalemate, and most of them received cash from one of McCarthy's PACs during the midterm campaign, Politico reported. Rep.-elect Kevin McCarthy's political machine spent millions supporting GOP candidates who won their elections and arrived on Capitol Hill only to oppose his bid for speaker. "We’re going to either see improvement up here the same way we made remarkable improvements in North Carolina in the state legislature, or I’m out," Bishop told Roll Call in an interview published early Thursday morning. He said that over McCarthy's 14-year tenure in Republican leadership, the would-be speaker has said the same things over and over again about threats facing the country and "every one of them has gotten worse, not better." Outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi weighed in on the drama surrounding the election of her potential successor, Rep-elect. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., after the sixth speakership vote failed on Wednesday.

House Vote Count: How Each Member Voted on Removing McCarthy as Speaker - The New York Times

House Vote Count: How Each Member Voted on Removing McCarthy as Speaker.

Posted: Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Johnson says he "feels very good" about speaker vote

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy again failed to secure the necessary 218 votes to be the next House speaker in a fourth round of voting Wednesday, which means at least another vote will be needed. "We have a constitutional duty to elect the Speaker of the House, but we have to deliberate further as a Republican conference until we have enough votes and stop wasting everyone’s time," she said. Rep.-elect Victoria Spartz of Indiana was the only member to vote “present,” a move that changes the dynamic of the vote. Members who don’t vote or who vote “present” reduce the minimum number of votes needed to secure a majority of the House.

McCarthy opponents push Jim Jordan as alternative in second vote for House speaker

He noted that Democrats provided support for legislation to raise the debt ceiling, avoid a government shutdown and provide disaster relief funding. The Democratic leader then took his place at the dais and delivered a speech cheering the work of House Democrats so far this Congress, while decrying the dysfunction that gripped the House over the last three weeks. Johnson returned to the House to applause from those in the chamber, and McHenry called the House back into order. Johnson also acknowledged that the chaos of the last three weeks has chipped away at Americans' confidence in the lower chamber. "Our mission here is to serve you well, to restore the people's faith in this House in this great and essential institution."

Mike Johnson elected House speaker with unanimous GOP support, ending weeks of chaos - CBS News

Mike Johnson elected House speaker with unanimous GOP support, ending weeks of chaos.

Posted: Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The statement from Perry follows a letter he sent Sunday to McCarthy along with eight members of the House Freedom Caucus that detailed their plan for the structure of party leadership. Perry added Tuesday that he would support McCarthy if he heeds to their demands. The group of Republicans threatening to block House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s bid to be the next House speaker dug in their heels even more over the long weekend and into Tuesday morning, when another GOP lawmaker made it clear McCarthy would not get his vote.

Cruz: House Speaker fight due to 'disappointing' election and because GOP doesn't 'follow orders'

"I promise our debates will be passionate. But they will never be personal. That's my commitment to you," McCarthy said. And he quipped to Jeffries that two years ago he had won 100% of his conference's vote, too. McCarthy began chipping away at the deficit in votes against him Friday morning in the first vote, when 14 Republicans switched their votes from another GOP nominee or "present" to McCarthy. That was also the first vote in which the California Republican earned more votes than Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The House has been in a state of uncertainty and chaos since Oct. 3, when rebels forced a vote to oust Mr. McCarthy as speaker. Eight Republicans backed that move along with Democrats, who remained united behind their own leader, Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

McCarthy enters GOP Conference meeting as he makes latest plea for speakership support

Lawmakers said they believe these changes could get McCarthy exactly 218 votes at some point, after a few remaining issues are settled with a handful of members. That implies that McCarthy’s side expects four GOP lawmakers to remain opposed to him, but he can lose that many and still win the speaker’s gavel if all others support him. Punchbowl reported McCarthy insisted it is unlikely the House adjourns for an extended period of time until a speaker is elected.

McCarthy, House Freedom Caucus negotiations in a 'good spot,' but 'no deal' yet, sources say

In the latest attempt, anti-McCarthy Republicans nominated both Rep.-elect Byron Donalds of Florida and Rep.-elect Kevin Hern of Oklahoma. Each had collected a handful of votes in early the vote – enough to deny McCarthy a 218 majority. Meanwhile, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania told reporters that McCarthy allies and foes are talking about the specifics of committee assignments that could help McCarthy attract GOP holdouts.

Interim House Speaker McHenry doesn't rule out supporting GOP resolution to expand his powers

McCarthy has failed each ballot by 20 votes, and can only afford to lose four GOP votes. Rep.-elect Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., told reporters Thursday off the House floor that negotiators for McCarthy are working with his GOP opponents to put "meat on the bones" of a deal aimed at winning over those opponents. Republican Rep.-elect Kevin Hern, a House Freedom Caucus member nominated to be House speaker by Rep.-elect Lauren Boebert, received seven votes from opponents of GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy in the 10th round of balloting on Thursday.

But hours after Emmer won the nod in a closed-door vote by the conference Tuesday morning, the former president lambasted the Minnesota Republican, writing on Truth Social that "voting for a Globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake." Sources told CNN earlier Wednesday that there was a "big push" to bring the bill to the floor once the House elected a new speaker. The House is now voting to pass a resolution in support of Israel in the war against Hamas – the first measure to come to the floor to be passed after Speaker Mike Johnson was elected this morning following three weeks of a speakerless-House. The House passed a resolution in support of Israel in the war against Hamas – the first measure to come to the floor after Speaker Mike Johnson was elected earlier Wednesday following three weeks without a speaker.

Shortly after 1 p.m., the House began voting for speaker, with Johnson as the Republican nominee and Jeffries as the Democratic nominee. He was the first candidate since McCarthy's ouster to face no opposition from his own party. The comment was a reference to Johnson's work to overturn the results of the 2020 election. "From the very beginning of this Congress, House Democrats have been governing for the people," Jeffries said. "We continue to look forward to finding bipartisan common ground whenever and wherever possible."