pressure on holdouts
The remaining holdouts faced mounting pressure to fall in line and allow Republicans to take control of the chamber, with some warning that a prolonged impasse raised questions about the party’s ability to govern.
“It has become clear to me that some individuals are simply obstructionists,” said Keith Self, a newly elected Texas Republican, after casting his vote.
It was unclear what – if anything – McCarthy could do to win them over.
Of the 20 Republicans who voted against McCarthy this week, 14 received campaign contributions totaling $120,000 ahead of the midterms from a McCarthy-controlled majority committee fundraising group, federal disclosures show.
The House remained leaderless and unable to begin its business on Friday, the two-year anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob stormed Congress in an effort to reverse then-President Trump’s election loss.
Several House Democrats said they saw a connection.
House Republicans continue to be dominated by the same extremist forces, No. 2 House Democrat Katherine Clark said in a statement Friday. They cannot elect a leader because their convention is held hostage by members who spread misinformation. give and want to destroy democracy.” ,
This week’s 13 failed ballots marked the highest number of ballots cast for the speakership since 1859.
McCarthy’s last bid for speaker, in 2015, fell apart in the face of right-wing opposition. The previous two Republican speakers, John Boehner and Paul Ryan, quit after clashes with right-wing colleagues.
Wielding the speaker’s sword will empower McCarthy to block Biden’s legislative agenda, vote for Republican priorities on the economy, energy and immigration, and move forward with investigations into Biden, his administration and his family.
McCarthy has also offered influential committee positions to members of the group, the lawmakers said, as well as spending restrictions that aim to reach a balanced budget within 10 years. The agreement would limit spending for the next fiscal year to last year’s level – amounting to a significant cut when inflation and population growth are taken into account.
This could meet resistance from more centrist Republicans or those who have pushed for more military funding, especially as the United States is spending money to help defend Ukraine from Russian aggression.