On Friday, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California made progress in winning over some of the ultraconservative Republicans who have so far opposed his bid for House speaker.
In the 13th vote to name a House speaker, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California has received one new vote from a previous detractor.
A table that shows the current tally for the most recent vote for speaker of the House.
LIVE13th Speaker Vote Tally
Total | Dem. | Rep. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
McCarthy |
214 | 0 | 214 | |
Jordan |
6 | 0 | 6 | |
Jeffries |
212 | 212 | 0 |
Note: To win, a member must receive the majority of votes cast for a person, not counting “present” votes. The Constitution specifies that House members choose the speaker, but the speaker does not have to be a current or even a former representative.
Mr. McCarthy needs 218 votes if every member of Congress casts a ballot, so he only can afford to lose four Republican votes. In the 12th round of voting, held on Friday, 14 of the 21 Republicans who had previously opposed Mr. McCarthy (or simply voted “present”) flipped their votes, leaving him just three votes shy of a majority. All 211 present Democrats voted for Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the minority leader.
Mr. McCarthy could win the speakership with fewer than 218 votes if some lawmakers vote “present” or do not vote at all. (He would still need to receive more votes than Mr. Jeffries in this scenario.)
A table that shows summary tallies for each ballot round of House speaker votes.
Ballot Round | McCarthy |
Jeffries |
Other | Present |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 203 | 212 | 19 | 0 |
2nd | 203 | 212 | 19 | 0 |
3rd | 202 | 212 | 20 | 0 |
4th | 201 | 212 | 20 | 1 |
5th | 201 | 212 | 20 | 1 |
6th | 201 | 212 | 20 | 1 |
7th | 201 | 212 | 20 | 1 |
8th | 201 | 212 | 20 | 1 |
9th | 200 | 212 | 20 | 1 |
10th | 200 | 212 | 20 | 1 |
11th | 200 | 212 | 20 | 1 |
12th | 213 | 211 | 7 | 0 |
13th | 214 | 212 | 6 | 0 |
Note: To win, a member must receive the majority of votes cast for a person, not counting “present” votes.
In the first vote, held on Tuesday, 19 House Republicans voted for a Republican other than Mr. McCarthy. During the second vote, those same 19 opposed him but rallied around Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, a founding member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus. Mr. Jordan pleaded with his colleagues to give their support to Mr. McCarthy, but all 19, plus an additional Republican, voted for Mr. Jordan on the third ballot.
In the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds of voting, held on Wednesday, the same 20 Republicans voted for Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, and one voted “present.” In the seventh through 11th rounds, held on Thursday, 20 Republicans continued to withhold support from Mr. McMarthy, and one voted “present.” Mr. McCarthy lost an additional Republican vote in the ninth through 11th rounds when Representative Ken Buck of Colorado did not vote at all.
How Every Representative Voted
Members voting differently from the majority of their party are highlighted.
A list of each representatives’ votes during the rounds of House speaker votes.