WASHINGTON: Republican leader Kevin McCarthy lost an eighth vote for the US House of Representatives speaker on Thursday, even after he made several concessions intended to win over far-right opponents who have so far blocked his path.
The final tally of the eighth vote was barely changed from the seventh ballot. Mr McCarthy received 201 votes, just as he did in Thursday’s first vote. Conservative candidate Byron Donalds received 17 votes.
Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries received all 212 votes of his party from a unanimous Democratic caucus.
Mr Byron received fewer votes than he had in the seventh round because of confusion over a third candidate.
It was unclear what would happen after the eighth vote, whether Republicans would attempt to adjourn the chamber or be forced to hold a ninth vote.
The continued absence of a speaker has left the House in disarray, as rank-and-file members can’t be sworn into office until a speaker is elected and cannot set up their local or Washington offices.
This leaves all 434 members of the House technically still members-elect, not official voting representatives.
Earlier a seventh vote also failed to elect a Speaker as Kevin McCarthy couldn’t get the required 218 votes to get the speakership.
As the third day of the newly-elected Congress began on Thursday afternoon, House Republicans once again nominated Mr McCarthy for the highest position in the House, although he had already lost six earlier votes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
After the sixth vote on Wednesday evening, the Republicans, who are a majority in the House, succeeded in adjourning the session to get more time to negotiate a deal with 20 ultraconservative members of his party, who are opposing him.
Early talks showed some progress as Mr McCarthy indicated that he would accept some of the key demands of the renegade members. These included the demand to empower every member to start the process for removing the speaker. McCarthy had earlier proposed at least five members to do so.
He also was willing to give more budgetary powers to the members and to include his opponents in key congressional committees.
Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2023
