On Wednesday, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) failed to secure the House speakership for a fourth, fifth, and sixth time, each time with twenty Republicans choosing not to vote for him on the fourth ballot.
This number was the same as the number of Republicans who rejected him on the third ballot the previous day.
The House Republican leadership struggle had entered its second day following three unsuccessful attempts to choose a speaker the previous day.
A group of hardline members is blocking McCarthy from becoming speaker by demanding concessions or alternative candidates.
The House cannot conduct any other business and members cannot be sworn in until a speaker is selected.
During the fourth round of voting on Wednesday, Texas Representative Chip Roy nominated Florida Representative Byron Donalds for speaker.
In a statement, Rep. Roy remarked that “history was made” as both Donalds and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries are African American and were contenders for the speakership in the fourth round.
During the fifth voting round, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) also nominated Rep. Donalds, and called for President Donald Trump to tell McCarthy he does “not have the votes” and that
it’s “time to withdraw.”
