The House Speaker race is getting interesting. As far as many establishment Republicans are concerned, a little too interesting.
On Wednesday, the Speaker vote again went to the House floor. And after four failed bids on Tuesday, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was again denied the speaker gavel.
In the fourth vote, a new name appeared in the Speaker vote column as the GOP rebellion rallied around Florida Republican Byron Donalds.
The House vote showed 201 ‘ayes’ for McCarthy and 212 ‘ayes’ for New York Democrat Hakeem Jeffries. In the fifth vote, at least 19 Republicans voted for Donalds.
The GOP uprising against McCarthy has proved more obstinate than the establishment could have foreseen. On Tuesday, Rep. Scott Perry signaled that he would not budge in his vote.
I stand firmly committed to changing the status quo no matter how many ballots this takes. If @gopleader McCarthy had fought nearly as hard to defeat the failed, toxic policies of the @POTUS Biden Administration as he has for himself, he would be Speaker of the House right now.
— RepScottPerry (@RepScottPerry) January 3, 2023
“I stand firmly committed to changing the status quo no matter how many ballots this takes,” the Pennsylvania Republican tweeted. “If @gopleader McCarthy had fought nearly as hard to defeat the failed, toxic policies of the @POTUS Biden Administration as he has for himself, he would be Speaker of the House right now.”
Texas Republican Chip Roy added his view on “The Ingraham Angle.”
Weeks ago, we saw the Senate GOP led by Mitch McConnell steamroll the American people with a bloated $1.7 TRILLION dollar omnibus
We have to change our ways or we will not survive. pic.twitter.com/3Ndu1Npbn2
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) January 4, 2023
“Weeks ago, we saw the Senate GOP led by Mitch McConnell steamroll the American people with a bloated $1.7 TRILLION dollar omnibus,” Roy remarked on Twitter. “We have to change our ways or we will not survive.”
Chip Roy subsequently nominated Byron Donalds for Speaker.
Rep. Chip Roy nominates Byron Donalds for the Speaker of the House. pic.twitter.com/ApwDnRzTtQ
— Real Mac Report (@RealMacReport) January 4, 2023
McCarthy has now failed to win the Speakership in five votes. It was the first time in 100 years that the Speakership was not decided in the first vote.
Follow Kyle Becker on Twitter @kylenabecker.