After nine rounds of votes, tensions rise in the chaotic House.
(Bloomberg) — The House speaker fight is headed into a 10th vote — the most since before the Civil War — as Republican leader Kevin McCarthy still hasn’t secured enough backers.
The chamber has been paralyzed for three straight days, and there’s no resolution in sight. The California Republican is being opposed by 20 GOP critics, even after former President Donald Trump urged holdouts to “VOTE FOR KEVIN.” McCarthy lost the support of Indiana’s Victoria Spartz, who answered “present” in the last three rounds of voting, and some of his allies are talking about whether he should step aside for someone else.
Read More: What Votes Does Kevin McCarthy Need to Win Speaker? Here’s the Math
In the meantime, Congress can’t conduct any business without a speaker, and tension is growing on both sides of the aisle. One floated a potential deal that would trade Democratic votes to elect McCarthy, a move that would likely cost him more support among Republicans.
These are the conservatives who voted for another candidate during the ninth roll call vote on Thursday:
- Andy Biggs, Arizona
- Dan Bishop, North Carolina
- Lauren Boebert, Colorado
- Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma
- Michael Cloud, Texas
- Andrew Clyde, Georgia
- Eli Crane, Arizona
- Byron Donalds, Florida
- Matt Gaetz, Florida
- Bob Good, Virginia
- Paul Gosar, Arizona
- Andy Harris, Maryland
- Anna Paulina Luna, Florida
- Mary Miller, Illinois
- Ralph Norman, South Carolina
- Andy Ogles, Tennessee
- Scott Perry, Pennsylvania
- Matt Rosendale, Montana
- Chip Roy, Texas
- Keith Self, Texas
One Republican answered “present” rather than casting a vote during the roll call:
- Victoria Spartz, Indiana
(Updates with Thursday’s proceedings throughout.)
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