Republican Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) made significant headway on the 12th ballot for House speaker, winning over 14 hardline Republicans who had previously opposed him, but fell short of achieving a majority of votes needed to claim the position.
A package of concessions offered by McCarthy placated some Republicans who have blocked his speakership over four days of voting. The dissidents’ votes for McCarthy – who vowed ahead of the vote Friday to show “progress” – prompted applause in the chamber from McCarthy’s allies. The process now moves to a 13th ballot.
For the first time over four days of voting, Republican Kevin McCarthy got more votes than Democrat Hakeem Jeffries. McCarthy still failed to win the speakership.
California Republican Kevin McCarthy has, for the first time in this speaker’s race, received more votes than New York Democrat Hakeem Jeffries. In the 12th round of voting, McCarthy received 213 votes.
Arizona Republican Paul A. Gosar and Tennessee Republican Andy Ogles, two of the previous holdouts, returned to the chamber to support McCarthy. The two had missed their roll-call votes during this ballot. Their votes were welcomed with loud applause.
Source: The Washington Post
