Iran Press/America: McCarthy had lost a trio of votes on Tuesday and three more on Wednesday, the first time in a century that the process has necessitated more than one ballot. After Thursday's votes, it became the first time since 1859 that it has needed more than nine rounds. House members will continue voting indefinitely until a majority decision is reached.
McCarthy had lost ground over the first six rounds of voting, with 19 votes against him growing to 20 and one Republican, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, flipping a pro-McCarthy vote to “present,” further hurting his cause. The results were the same in the seventh through 10th rounds, with 21 GOP members failing to support him.
During the 10th vote, Punchbowl News reported that a deal between McCarthy and some of his opponents was “close” and that an offer was expected in writing Thursday night.
After initially backing Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as an alternative to McCarthy, those opposing him switched their support Wednesday to Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. Jordan has supported McCarthy throughout the process, while Donalds flipped his vote from McCarthy to himself. On the eighth ballot, some in the non-McCarthy bloc began voting for Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., who has been pro-McCarthy throughout the process.
Those opposing McCarthy have said that he is too representative of the status quo in Congress and that there is a need for new leadership. Prior to the ninth vote, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., formally nominated Hern, saying, “We need a leader that is not of the broken system. Someone who is not beholden to the lobbyists but to the people who sent us here. Someone who can unite our party and, most importantly, someone who can deliver on the promises that we have all made to the American people."
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has been one of the most vocal antagonists to McCarthy and voted for former President Donald Trump as speaker on Thursday. There is nothing in the Constitution that requires the speaker to be a member of the House, so Trump is technically eligible for the position. The former president has supported McCarthy’s bid, but his affirmation of support for McCarthy on Wednesday did not sway any GOP defectors. Gaetz voted for Hern in the ninth round.
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