After 11 votes, the U.S. House of Representatives has still yet to elect a House Speaker.
After five votes on Thursday, Republican Kevin McCarthy continued to fall short of the needed votes.
The House is expected to reconvene Friday at noon, The Christian Post reports. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick told reporters that McCarthy may pick up some holdouts today, but he still may not have enough to secure the speaker post.
“I think it’s going to be an interesting situation today, I think he’s going to pick up some of those holdouts, but they’re missing members today,” Fitzpatrick told reporters.
Rep. John James of Michigan nominated McCarthy on Thursday morning, saying that “he’s earned my trust.”
McCarthy needs 218 votes to secure the speaker position. Republicans hold 222 seats in Congress.
McCarthy has reportedly been in deep discussions with some Republicans who have voted against him, but thus far has failed to convince them to support his bid.
Meanwhile, Democrats are standing behind Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
The GOP breakaway faction has nominated Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida.
“The Lord said, ‘behold, I do a new thing,’” said Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina. “We need more Byron Donalds. I know Byron. He’s not a ‘prop.’ He’s a man of personal conviction. He arrived at his convictions through authentic and genuine life experience.”
This is the first time in about 100 years the House has taken more than one vote to elect a new speaker. In 1855, the House took four months to select a new speaker.
According to the law, the House cannot conduct any business until a speaker is elected to the post.
In the 11th vote, McCarthy received 200 votes, Jeffries won 212 votes, other individuals divided up 20 votes, and one person voted present.
Friday also marked the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries spoke, thanking the officers “who defended us at the citadel of democracy that fateful day.” No members of the incoming House Republican leadership attended the anniversary ceremony Friday, and the only Republican member in attendance was Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
Related:
House Fails to Elect New Speaker of the House for Second Day
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Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
