All eyes will be on the nearly two dozen conservatives who prevented Rep. Kevin McCarthy from winning the speaker’s gavel and are rallying behind conservative Rep. Jim Jordan.
WASHINGTON — Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and his conservative detractors will square off for a second consecutive day as lawmakers prepare to resume voting Wednesday to pick the next House speaker.
A group of 20 far-right rebels banded together Tuesday and blocked McCarthy from winning the 218 needed votes.
Three separate votes were held, and each time McCarthy, R-Calif., a veteran member of GOP leadership, fell short. It was the first time in 100 years that the speaker vote has gone to multiple ballots.
“This is about saving the country and getting somebody that’s going to cut and get us on a financial path of solvency,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., one of the so-called Never Kevins who voted against McCarthy. “I’ll sit here for six more months — it doesn’t matter.”
But McCarthy has won the support of 202 Republicans — more than 90% of the 222-member GOP Conference — and the number of his detractors has stayed relatively steady. His allies vow to hold roll call votes until the opposition caves.
Source: McCarthy enters Day Two of uncertainty as House resumes speaker votes
