Kevin Can Wait: McCarthy Vows to Stay in the Race for House Speaker

By David Morgan and Moira Warburton. Gram Slattery

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Republican Kevin McCarthy vowed on Tuesday to remain in the race to be the powerful U.S. House of Representatives speaker, hours after hardline members of his party repeatedly blocked his bid to lead their brand-new majority.

In the first day of what could prove to be a brutal showdown between about 20 hardliners and the other 202 members of the Republican caucus, McCarthy failed in three ballots to achieve the 218 votes needed to become speaker, a role second in line to the Oval Office after the vice president.

The start of the Republican majority was disconcerting. This highlights the potential challenges facing the party in the two years ahead of the 2024 election. Their narrow 222-212 majority gives more power to a small group hardliners who seek rule changes to give them more control over the speaker as well as greater influence over party policy regarding debt and spending.

Late on Tuesday, McCarthy told reporters that former President Donald Trump had called him and reiterated his support. Trump has backed McCarthy in the race and remains a powerful figure in the Republican Party.

McCarthy, 57-year-old from California, knew that he had to climb a steep hill heading into Tuesday’s election and had pledged to keep forcing votes. The chamber voted to adjourn on Tuesday night until noon ET (1700 GMT), Wednesday. This would allow Republicans to have time to discuss other candidates.

Conservative Representative Jim Jordan, 58, from Ohio, won 20 votes in the last ballot of the day, far from the threshold of 218 to become speaker but enough to stop McCarthy.

“I think that Kevin knows that this is his last shot,” said Representative Kenneth Buck, who had voted to support McCarthy. He noted that McCarthy previously tried in 2015 to become speaker and failed in the face of conservative opposition, adding, “He’s not gonna have this chance again.”

House Republicans could be hindered by a prolonged speaker election. This would make it difficult for them to quickly move forward on investigations into Democratic Presidential Joe Biden and his Administration, as well as legislative priorities which include the economy, U.S. Energy Independence and border security.

The chamber’s top Democrat, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, bested McCarthy in all three votes. In the day’s final tally, Jeffries led McCarthy 212 to 202 votes. To determine the speaker, a majority of voters is required, not a plurality.

A standoff could leave the House paralysed and force lawmakers to look at another option.

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