GOP Holdouts Rally Behind Byron Donalds To Deny Kevin McCarthy The House Speaker’s Gavel

Daniel ChaitinJanuary 4, 2023

A group of 20 Republicans voted to elect Rep. Byron Donalds (R–FL) as House speaker on the second day. This denied House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) The gavel in the fourth round.

Rep. Chip Roy (R, Texas) nominated Donalds during the House’s return to session at noon Wednesday.

“For the first time in history, there have been two black Americans placed into the nomination for speaker,” Roy said the following to a round of applause. He also mentioned the Democratic nominee, Rep. Hakeem Jeffreys (D-NY).

“For the first time in history, there have been two black Americans placed into the nomination for Speaker.”

Standing ovations were given to Chip Roy for nominating Republican Byron Donalds as speaker. Nominated was also Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat. https://t.co/UMyG5yEQ7f pic.twitter.com/ALAH8Tzise

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 4, 2023

"For the first time in history, there have been two black Americans placed into the nomination for Speaker."

Rep. Chip Roy's nomination of Republican Byron Donalds for speaker is met with a standing ovation. Democrat Hakeem Jeffries was also nominated. https://t.co/UMyG5yEQ7f pic.twitter.com/ALAH8Tzise

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 4, 2023

Donalds voted Tuesday for McCarthy on the first two ballots, but he voted for Rep. Jim Jordan (R) in the third ballot.

On Wednesday, the final count for the first ballot was 201 votes for McCarthy and 212 for Jeffries. The total for Donalds was 20. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) voted “present.”

After former President Donald Trump, the vote will be held called On Wednesday morning, McCarthy will be the speaker of the Republican House.

“It’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY,” Trump posted to Truth Social. “REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & 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!”

Rep. Jim Jordan (R.OH), gave a speech Tuesday saw McCarthy being renominated to the position, and Republicans were urged to unite to vote.

“To my friends here on this side of the aisle, I would just say this: The differences we may have … pale in comparison to the differences between us and the left,” He said.

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) votes “Present” #118thCongress pic.twitter.com/FBmkIYazfU

— CSPAN (@cspan) January 4, 2023

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) votes "Present" #118thCongress pic.twitter.com/FBmkIYazfU

— CSPAN (@cspan) January 4, 2023

The threshold for a nominee to win the speaker’s gavel is 218 votes, but that number could decrease if members vote “present,” You can’t vote or decline to participate.

Votes will continue to be cast for as long as it takes to elect a speaker. House members cannot be sworn-in until a speaker is elected. This delays any legislative business and assigns committees in the 118th Congress.

McCarthy offered some concessions to woo GOP holdouts include making it easier To remove the House’s sitting speaker. However, some members such as Reps. Matt Gaetz and Dan Bishop (NC) and Lauren Boebert(CO) remain unmoved.