But McCarthy did pick up 15 votes from holdouts today for a total of 214. Six Republicans continue to vote against him. With the House at less than full membership, McCarthy needs 217 votes, according to C-Span. A 14th ballot is likely late tonight.
The House can’t conduct official business, including swearing in new representatives and adopting new rules, until a speaker is chosen. Members voted three times on Tuesday and Wednesday, five times on Thursday, and twice today.
Last multiple ballots for speaker were in 1923
Speakers are traditionally elected by the majority party in the House. The chamber’s failure to elect a speaker in multiple ballots is the first in almost a century. It took the House nine ballots to elect a speaker in 1923 and 133 ballots to choose one in 1855.
The House has 434 of its total 435 members at the moment, with 222 Republicans and 212 Democrats. A candidate usually needs 218 votes to become speaker. McCarthy’s votes have hovered between 200 and 203.
When Republicans retook the House in November, McCarthy, then the House minority leader, was nominated to become speaker on Nov. 15.
But McCarthy is opposed by more than a dozen deeply conservative Republicans, who want changes in House rules. McCarthy has made concessions to his opposition, who say they aren’t enough.
All 212 Democrats have voted for New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for speaker. It’s unlikely that members of either party will cross partisan lines to support a candidate.
It’s important to note that 218 votes for the speaker are usually, but not absolutely needed. Members can decline to vote or vote “present,” which reduces the vote threshold needed to win.
1st vote: 1:39 p.m. EST Tuesday
2nd vote: 3:16 p.m. Tuesday
3rd vote: 4:55 p.m. Tuesday
4th vote: 1:12 p.m. Wednesday
5th vote: 2:40 p.m. Wednesday
6th vote: 3:38 p.m. Wednesday
7th vote: 1:16 p.m. Thursday
8th vote: 3:01 p.m. Thursday
9th vote: 4:29 p.m. Thursday
10th vote: 5:52 p.m. Thursday
11th vote: 7:32 p.m. Thursday
12th vote: Friday
13th vote: Friday
Votes of Freedom Caucus members
How deeply conservative Republicans aligned against Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker have voted in this week’s ballots:
Why is the House speaker so important?
The speaker of the House is a powerful position, one that presides over the chamber and controls its proceedings.
The speaker is a key negotiator between the House, Senate and the presidency. Speakers can push legislation through the House or delay or kill it.
Why is the House at 434 members?
Democratic Rep. Donald McEachin of Virginia died Nov. 28 after winning reelection. An election to choose his replacement will take place on Feb. 21.
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SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Associated Press; Congressional Research Service; clerk.house.gov; govtrack.us; history.house.gov
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