Democrats gloat as Republican vote for speaker turns into a mess: Lawmakers post photos of popcorn

Democrats are enjoying internal chaos in the House Republican conference as leader Kevin McCarthy falls well short of the 218 votes needed to become president for a third time.

“About to go to the House,” Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., tweeted along with a photo of himself holding a bag of popcorn.

Rep. Robyn Kelly, D-Ill., posted a similar tweet showing her bringing a can of popcorn into the speaker’s lobby.

Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., wrote on Twitter: ‘Hunter Thompson was right: when the going gets weird, weird turns pro. This is what a Republican majority gets us: chaos. Democrats are here and ready to do our job for the country. Republican disorder stands in the way.

On the first and second ballots of the speaker’s vote, 19 Republicans against McCarthy, D-Calif., leaving him behind House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. McCarthy can only afford to lose four votes.

‘Day one. House Democrats are united and ready to get to work. Complete chaos across the hall,” Jeffries, DN.Y., wrote on Twitter.

US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) reacts as Representatives cast their votes for Speaker of the House on the first day of the 118th Congress in the House of Representatives of the US Capitol on January 3, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., in nominating Jeffries for speaker, highlighted the unity among Democrats, unlike their counterparts. He praised Jeffries as he fired at the Republican leader.

“He does not traffic in extremism, he does not humiliate himself or make excuses before a supposed ex-president accused twice,” Aguilar said.

Trump has continued to endorse McCarthy’s run for president. Despite the fact that most of the lawmakers who oppose the California Republican come from districts that Trump won, the former president’s endorsement does not seem to be enough.

“McCarthy must be as red as a tomato right now from the embarrassment of getting fewer votes than Jeffries,” said Rep. Jamaal Bowman, DN.Y.

“Looks like we might be here for a while…the House Republican Caucus is really off to a good start,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote on Twitter.

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., also posted a photo of popcorn: We’re popping out the popcorn in the Dem Caucus until the Republicans get their act together.

It was the first time a speaker had not been chosen on the first ballot in 100 years.

“Modern history has just been made,” Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., tweeted. ’19 @HouseGOP just voted against McCarthy. They’re all inside now. Anyone who changes their vote could also resign from Congress. They will never be taken seriously again.

McCarthy has vowed to remove Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee if he is elected chairman over his links to a suspected Chinese spy.

“Kevin McCarthy just lost his first speaking vote,” Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, tweeted. It’s your fault. Republicans have gone all out for the radical right, election deniers, and QAnon’s tinfoil hat brigade. The extremists hijacked his party. Now they are trying to hijack Congress. we will fight.

On the first ballot, the votes against McCarthy were split between Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., and other members. On the second ballot, everyone rallied behind Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who supports McCarthy.

‘The top vote-getters for House Speaker Republicans are Kevin McCarthy, Andy Biggs and Jim Jordan. Republicans are in disarray, but they all agree they want a leader who skirted a congressional subpoena to hide evidence about January 6 from the American people,” Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va, wrote on Twitter.