Monitoring Desk
WASHINGTON: Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy on Friday picked up the support of most of the right-wing hardliners who had opposed his bid to become the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, but fell short of clinching win in the 13th ballot in four days.
Kevin McCarthy said he believed the win was close, and the chamber voted to resume at 10 p.m. on Saturday. He claimed that the four-day long stalemate within the Republican party would come to an end then.
US House of Representatives
Kevin McCarthy supporters and some of his party members worried about the concessions he made in hopes of securing the US House of Representatives speakership, including agreeing to permit any single member to call for a vote to remove him from the office of the speaker at any time, could extend the deepest congressional dysfunction in 150 years.
He gained backing on Friday from 15 of his ex-hardline opponents, but drew just 214 votes in total, three short of the 217 required if all 434 current members of the House vote.
Republicans’ weaker than expected performance in November’s midterm polls left them with a narrow 222-212 majority, which has given power to the right-wing hardliners who have opposed McCarthy.
The right-wing hardliners accuse McCarthy of being too open to compromise with President Biden and Democrats, who also control the US Senate. Some hardliners say they want a leader who will be ready to compel government shutdowns to cut spending.
