House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has again failed to win the required votes to become speaker.
On Wednesday, the House convened to hold a fourth vote on who will be the speaker.
However, the outcome appears to show the Republicans who oppose McCarthy are not budging.
Two hundred and one Republicans voted for McCarthy, 212 voted for incoming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and 20 Republicans voted for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.)
Additionally, Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) voted present.
Once. Twice. Thrice. Four times a loser. pic.twitter.com/KqsFljQvfy
— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) January 4, 2023
McCarthy lost two ballots on Tuesday, with 19 Republicans voting for other candidates. And he lost a third ballot the same day as the number of defectors grew to 20.
His failure to clinch the speaker’s gavel comes even after former President Donald Trump urged Republicans to support his bid for speaker.
Trump wrote, “Some really good conversations took place last night, and it’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, [and] WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA,THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE ‘HOUSE’ TWICE!”
“REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT [and] EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB – JUST WATCH!” he added.
However, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who has been one of the leading opponents of McCarthy, was unmoved by Trump’s endorsement in a statement as he said, “Sad!”
“This changes neither my view of McCarthy, nor Trump, nor my vote,” he added.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) reacted to Wednesday’s vote as he tweeted, “Kevin is now 0-4. His opposition has grown in just two days. It’s time for him to hang up the cleats and let the House move forward without him at the helm.”
Kevin is now 0-4.
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) January 4, 2023
His opposition has grown in just two days.
It's time for him to hang up the cleats and let the House move forward without him at the helm.
Country > ego.
McCarthy has been adamant he will not give up his bid for speaker.
“They can go through whoever they want to go through, and they’ll come to the conclusion that they can’t get there,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
The House will now have to hold at least a fifth vote for speaker.