Rep. Kevin McCarthy made history Tuesday, but not in the way he had hoped.
The California Republican became the first nominee in 100 years to fail to garner enough votes to become House speaker on the first attempt.
A few hours later, McCarthy repeated the feat in a second round, again losing due to the stance taken by 19 conservative hard-liners. Still later in the day, he lost a third round and yet another GOP supporter.
During the second vote, the division among members of the new majority party made itself evident when Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida nominated Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for speaker.
Jordan himself urged his peers to unite under McCarthy, NPR reported.
“The differences we may have … pale in comparison to us and the left, which now unfortunately controls the other party,” Jordan said. “So, we had better come together. … That’s what the people want us to do, and I think Kevin McCarthy is the right guy to lead us.”
Although he knew going into the session that he faced a small but ardent opposing faction, McCarthy started the day by proclaiming that the position should be his.
“I earned this job,” McCarthy said, according to the New York Post. “We earned this majority, and God d*** it, we are going to win it today.”
The rebel holdouts were Arizona’s Andy Biggs, Eli Crane and Paul Gosar, Gaetz, North Carolina’s Dan Bishop, Colorado’s Lauren Boebert, Oklahoma’s Josh Brecheen, Georgia’s Andrew Clyde, Virginia’s Bob Good, Maryland’s Andy Harris, Florida’s Anna Luna, Illinois’ Mary Miller, South Carolina’s Ralph Norman, Tennessee’s Andy Ogles, Pennsylvania’s Scott Perry, Montana’s Matthew Rosendale and three Texans: Michael Cloud, Chip Roy and Keith Self, The Washington Post reported.
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