Hard-line conservatives of the Republican House caucus again defeated Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bid to become Speaker of the House in a second ballot vote. McCarthy needs 218 votes to become Speaker.
This sort of thing (more than one ballot for speaker) hasn't occurred since the Civil War era.
According to Politico:
Kevin McCarthy again failed to secure the votes for speaker in a highly unusual second ballot, as his dozen-plus detractors refused to relent in their push for fresh leadership atop the party.
This time, conservative hero Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) personally urged his colleagues to back McCarthy in a speech before the vote. Instead, 19 Republicans voted for Jordan on the floor — again sending GOP leaders scrambling.
It’s a stunning prolonged chaos on the first day of the new Congress. McCarthy and his allies will now attempt to quell the revolt, preparing members to take repeated votes as pressure mounts from their colleagues. It marked only the second time since the Civil War that a party needs multiple attempts to choose its leader on the House floor — with all business in the chamber, even the swearing-in of members, halted until a speaker is chosen.
It looks to be a long night.
To read more, go here.
UPDATE (1/4/23):
McCarthy has since lost a 3rd ballot vote with a defector.
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