House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy fails to win enough votes to become speaker, setting up historic showdown
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WASHINGTON — Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy failed to secure enough support Tuesday for his bid to become House speaker during the chamber's first round of voting, the first time in a century that the majority party failed to coalesce behind a speaker and forced more than one round of voting. It was unclear immediately after the first round what next steps Republicans would take. McCarthy has vowed to hold as many rounds as needed to secure the necessary 218 votes. During a tense voice vote, all 212 Democrats rallied unanimously around incoming Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, N.Y. Ten Republicans voted for McCarthy's only declared GOP rival, Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, while nine GOP lawmakers voted for other alternatives. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) talks with reporters after a House Republican caucus meeting on the first day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, January 3, 2023. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters McCarthy's failure to win public support