House speaker election impasse enters second day with no breakthrough in sight for GOP leader Kevin McCarthy
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives entered its second day without an elected speaker Wednesday, after Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., failed in three consecutive votes Tuesday to secure the 218 votes needed to win the coveted post. But after negotiations with fellow Republicans that lasted deep into the night on Tuesday, McCarthy appeared no closer Wednesday to winning over the 20 members of his caucus who had refused to support him the day before. The failed votes marked the first time in 100 years that the majority party in the House has not elected a speaker on its first vote. The staunch opposition to McCarthy from a core group of Republicans grew larger over the course of the day, throwing the party into chaos. The House convened at noon on Wednesday, and members of both parties were advised that there would likely be a fourth vote on the speaker. But this course of events was still up in the air even as members were seated in their seats. If Re...