House adjourns as McCarthy struggles to win speaker’s gavel
Juliegrace Brufke
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The House agreed to adjourn after Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) failed to secure the speakership in three ballots cast Tuesday, with competing factions slated to huddle on next steps after Republicans found themselves at an impasse over who should lead the lower chamber.
Lawmakers adjourned by voice vote until noon Wednesday after 20 Republicans opposed McCarthy’s bid for speaker, choosing instead to throw their support behind Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).
MCCARTHY CRITICS TAKE AIM AT SPEAKER HOPEFUL’S TACTICS TO SWAY VOTES
With the lower chamber working as “a majoritarian body” since a speaker has not been elected and a rules package has not been passed, a vote on a motion was necessary to break from the clerk continuing to call roll for the gavel.
Republican members are expected to discuss a path forward as a group of conservatives continue to vow to withhold their votes, with critics arguing that McCarthy did not make enough concessions to their demands for substantial rules changes and some saying that overarching trust issues have led them not to back him on the floor.
Pro-McCarthy members have repeatedly called for the party to unify around him, arguing that he has earned the position and delays in electing him will derail their ability to tackle the agenda they laid out on the campaign trail.
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Defectors have called for the conference to rally around a “consensus candidate” as both the pro- and anti-McCarthy coalitions vow to dig into their respective positions regardless of how many ballots it takes.
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