4th January, 2023
The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned Tuesday without a new speaker after Republican party leader Kevin McCarthy failed to get the votes necessary because of opposition from members of his party.
The efforts to elect a new Speaker was abandoned after McCarthy lost three straight ballots, the first time in a century the usually straight forward process has taken more than one vote.
McCarthy secured only 203 votes in the first round, far less than the majority of 218 he needed to secure the speaker’s post; 19 other Republicans voted for other candidates; McCarthy even trailed Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who had the support of all 212 Democrats
The House will reconvene on Wednesday, when voting is expected to go to a fourth round.
The last time the vote for a new speaker went past the first ballot was 100 years ago, in 1923.
According to USATODAY.COM, The loss underscores how Republican infighting between moderates and hardliners will complicate the GOP’s majority in the House of Representatives.