The sixth vote, the third on Thursday, ended similarly to nearly every other vote this week
Casey Harper
The Center Square
U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., failed for a sixth time Wednesday afternoon to secure the needed 218 votes to become the next Speaker of the House. After the vote, the House adjourned and is expected to return later tonight.
The sixth vote, the third on Thursday, ended similarly to nearly every other vote this week: about 20 Republicans voted for a Republican challenger to McCarthy, who can only afford to lose the support of four House Republicans.
But five Republicans have made clear they do not support McCarthy, and voting Tuesday and Wednesday showed that many more were willing to vote against him, even if it means drawing out the process for multiple days with no end in sight.
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., received 20 votes in the sixth vote Tuesday.
“It’s time to find a Speaker that will unify the GOP,” said U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., who voted for Donalds.
McCarthy’s support has slightly decreased from 203 votes in the first ballot to 201 in the most recent.
The multiple votes for a speaker is not unprecedented in American history, but it has not happened in 100 years. The longest battle for the position took about two months and 133 voting rounds.
Until the chamber elects a speaker, it will be largely inactive. The Senate easily selected Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to lead their respective parties in that chamber.
Former President Donald Trump vocalized his support behind McCarthy in a post on TruthSocial Wednesday, but it was not enough to sway Republican holdouts.
Some conservative Republicans have been unwilling to throw their support behind the California Republican, who many see as too liberal, but so far no challenger has arisen with enough clout to get the needed votes.
“In his 14 years in Republican leadership, McCarthy has repeatedly failed to demonstrate any desire to meaningfully change the status quo in Washington,” U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Penn., said. “Despite our deep reservations we have continued to work in earnest to find a path forward with McCarthy, knowing that this crucial moment would come.
As The Center Square previously reported, Perry said he and other conservative members in the House laid out conditions for McCarthy but that he “balked” when faced with them. Those conditions included a promise to vote on a balanced budget, the “Texas Border Plan,” term limits for members of Congress, and the Fair Tax Act, which would create a national sales tax on certain services and property to replace the current income tax, payroll taxes, and estate and gift taxes.
“We requested transparent, accountable votes on individual earmarks that would require two-thirds support to pass, and to ensure that all amendments to cut spending would be allowed floor consideration,” Perry said. “He dismissed it.”
This report was first published by The Center Square.
Also read:
- Opinion: Neighbors for a Better Crossing urges Oregon Legislators to demand full audit of IBR project, echoing Washington’s HB 2669
Gary Clark of Neighbors for a Better Crossing urges Oregon lawmakers to pursue an audit of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project similar to Washington’s HB 2669 proposal. - Opinion: ‘Privacy’ is not a license for government secrecy – Supreme Court’s Mirabelli Ruling puts Washington’s school parental notification policies on notice
Vicki Murray argues a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on parental notification policies could affect Washington’s approach to student gender identity nondisclosure in schools. - WA Senate narrowly advances bill to reduce education spending by $176M through 2031
The Washington Senate passed a bill by a 25-24 vote that would reduce and delay some education funding to help address the state’s budget shortfall. - Opinion: Climate Commitment Act – Washington’s hidden carbon tax hits hard
Opinion, columns, Washington state, Climate Commitment Act, CCA Washington, Washington carbon tax debate, Washington gas prices, Nancy Churchill, Dangerous Rhetoric, Washington climate policy, Washington fuel costs, Travis Couture, Washington Department of Ecology, Washington Department of Commerce, Washington carbon credit auctions, Washington cap and trade program, Washington environmental policy - Legislation from Rep. David Stuebe to strengthen Medicaid support for emergency ambulance services moves closer to becoming law
A bill from Rep. David Stuebe updating Medicaid reimbursement for emergency ambulance services passed the Senate and now heads to the governor’s desk. - Coffee Caturday is this Saturday in Battle Ground sounds purrrrrfect
Coffee Caturday on March 7 will bring pet-themed vendors, coffee, and donation opportunities to the Battle Ground Senior Center. - WA governor: Passage of income tax could slip to 2027
Gov. Bob Ferguson warned Washington lawmakers may need until 2027 to finalize a proposed tax on income above $1 million as negotiations continue over how to use the revenue.
