Kevin McCarthy on verge of losing FOURTH ballot to become Speaker

The House appears ready to vote against making Republican leader Kevin McCarthy its president in a fourth round of voting on Wednesday, with eight Republicans voting against the California Republican.

Democrats all voted for Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, while anti-McCarthy Republicans appear to be united behind Florida Rep. Byron Donalds. So far thirteen Republicans have voted for him.

A day earlier they had rallied behind Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who supports McCarthy, but now his name appears to have been dropped from the race.

Before the vote, Rep. Chip Roy, a staunch McCarthy critic, was seen huddled with Jordan on the House floor.

Donalds voted for himself in the race after voting for McCarthy on the first two ballots. On Tuesday’s third ballot, he voted for Jordan and said he realized McCarthy didn’t have the votes and needed to reevaluate.

Rep. Chip Roy received a standing ovation even from Democrats when he nominated Donalds for speaker.

Nineteen Republicans voted against the California Republican on Tuesday’s first two ballots and 20 on a third ballot. The House voted to adjourn when it became clear that no progress was being made.

Rep. Mike Gallagher nominated McCarthy with a strong defense of the Republican leader and a few jokes about needing popcorn to get through the day’s chaos. Gallagher for speaker! Rep. Matt Gaetz yelled as Gallagher received a standing ovation during his speech.

Rep. Chip Roy received a standing ovation even from Democrats when he nominated Donalds for speaker, noting that it was the first time two black candidates had been nominated for speaker in history.

As it becomes clearer that the impasse is unlikely to be broken anytime soon, some have suggested that McCarthy’s allies will soon try to broker a deal with Democrats.

Even Rep. Alexandrira Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., suggested to MSNBC that McCarthy might try to cut a deal with Democrats.

‘If he chooses to approach the Democratic Caucus, then that would be a negotiation, in and of itself, for a potential coalition government. But then again, this is an unprecedented time.

AOC also questioned whether a deal could include Democratic committee chairs and reiterated in an Instagram post that McCarthy should open talks across the aisle to secure the vote.

“If this goes on, and on, and the Republican Party doesn’t have a designated speaker, something has to happen,” he said.