Republican McCarthy wins House speaker on 15th ballot: recap

WASHINGTON – Rep. Kevin McCarthy clinched the election to become the 55th person to serve as speaker of the House after a marathon 15 rounds of voting since Tuesday and a series of concessions that moved power from his new position to a cadre of hard-right lawmakers.

His election came two years after the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol – a day when McCarthy, his top deputies and 19 of the 20 holdouts he negotiated with to win all voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

On that day two years ago, McCarthy reportedly called former President Donald Trump, imploring him to call off his supporters who were ransacking the Capitol. Today – and all week – McCarthy was begging for votes from some of Trump’s biggest supporters. That includes Rep. Matt Gaetz, who nominated and voted for Trump as House speaker.

It has been a grueling week of negotiations. This is the first time the process of electing a speaker took more than one ballot in more than 100 years.

Latest developments:

He did it: House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy survived one of the longest and most chaotic speaker elections since the Civil War after winning over conservative naysayers within his own party.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy survived one of the longest and most chaotic speaker elections since the Civil War after winning over conservative naysayers within his own party. House GOP agenda: After two years of Democratic control in both chambers, allowing for an 18-month congressional investigation into the Capitol attack, the GOP has vowed to fight back on narratives around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, COVID-19 and Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden.

After two years of Democratic control in both chambers, allowing for an 18-month congressional investigation into the Capitol attack, the GOP has vowed to fight back on narratives around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, COVID-19 and Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. House honoring January 6 anniversary: Before the House reconvened Friday, Democrats and Republicans remembered the Jan. 6 anniversary in press conferences to honor those impacted by the violent attack two years ago.

Stay in the conversation on politics:Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter

Members sworn into office

McCarthy, in his new role as speaker, administered the oath to all members-elect early Saturday morning.

He officially swore in the members of the 118th Congress and kicked off the start of legislative business in the lower chamber after a marathon speaker vote since Tuesday.

- Rachel Looker

McCarthy takes the gavel: ‘That was easy, huh?’

Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries handed over the speaker’s gavel to McCarthy after officially welcoming members to the 118th Congress and emphasizing the unanimity of the Democratic Congress.

“That was easy, huh?” McCarthy said as he took the podium following chants of "U-S-A" from his caucus. “I never thought we’d get up here.”

McCarthy touched on spending, inflation, the national debt, jobs and immigration in his first speech as speaker.

“My father always told me, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish and now we need to finish strong for the American people,” he said.

“It’s night time here in Washington, but in some ways it’s also like a new beginning, a fresh start,” he added.

-- Rachel Looker

What is inflation?:Understanding why prices rise, what causes it and who it hurts most.

Jeffries hands gavel to McCarthy

Before House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries passed the gavel to newly elected Speaker Kevin McCarthy, he excoriated Republicans for a weeklong fight to elect their majority leader.

He said the change from a Democratic-held House to a Republican-led House means a shift from “a year of accomplishment to a year of ambiguity.”

Jeffries called McCarthy’s predecessor, Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a “defender of democracy” and a “no-nonsense negotiator” who will go down as the “best speaker of all time.”

His introduction to McCarthy sounded at times like a campaign speech, and the longer it went on the more Republicans called on him to wrap it up, eventually booing.

Jeffries said of Democrats in the new Congress: “We will not compromise our values.”

Some Republicans in the chamber retorted: “Neither will we!”

--Candy Woodall

Money and politics:These House lawmakers received campaign money from Kevin McCarthy, then voted against him

Biden congratulates McCarthy and challenges him to work together

President Joe Biden quickly issued a statement congratulating newly elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy – and just as quickly issued a challenge.

"The American people expect their leaders to govern in a way that puts their needs above all else, and that is what we need to do now," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

Biden promoted his economic record and said he is prepared to work with Republicans "when I can." He added: "And voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well."

McCarthy and the Republicans made Biden the issue during last year's campaign to win control of the House. The new speaker has repeatedly said Biden is leading the nation in the wrong direction.

– David Jackson

The week that was:Without rules, House speaker debate opens chamber to cameras, video chronicling chaos

House speaker ballot 15: McCarthy wins 216 votes

A bruised Kevin McCarthy finally got over the top in the wee hours of Saturday, recording 216 votes and becoming speaker of the House after days of rancor, reversals and deal-making with opponents.

The win came on a post-midnight 15th ballot that only took place after a group of Republicans defeated a motion to adjourn and convinced enough colleagues to change their votes.

It turned out that six Republicans who had opposed McCarthy during 14 previous ballots voted "present" on this one, lowering the magic number McCarthy needed to claim a majority.

In addition to McCarthy's total of 216, the House clerk officially reported that Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries again won 212 votes from party colleagues.

The six Republicans who voted "present" were Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, Andy Biggs, Eli Crane, Bob Good and Matt Rosendale. All had been involved in this week's effort to block McCarthy from ascending to the speakership.

– David Jackson and Rachel Looker

Who is the next speaker?:Kevin McCarthy was once rejected for a House internship. Now he could become the next speaker

House speaker vote 15: McCarthy appears to have the votes

On a record 15th ballot, Kevin McCarthy tentatively racked up the votes to become speaker of the House on Friday, picking up sufficient votes from Republicans who signed onto an agreement over rules, committee assignments, and other perks.

The new McCarthy supporters had voted for other people during the three previous days but went with the Republican leader he made concessions that essentially give more power to the conservative critics who opposed him.

The tally from ballot 15 must still be confirmed and made official by the House clerk.

– David Jackson

More votes to go:McCarthy House speaker drama signals more fights no matter who holds gavel, lawmakers say

Gaetz votes present on 15th ballot

Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, in many ways the face of the anti-McCarthy movement, voted present which gives the GOP leader a needed edge.

By the time Gaetz had voted four Republican holdouts were voting present as well.

—Phillip M. Bailey

Phillips nominates Jeffries in 15th vote

Rep. Dean Phillips nominated House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for speaker in the 15th round of voting this week, with the latest round of voting stretching into early Saturday morning.

“I rise to say, ‘Wow,’” Phillips quipped in a nod to the late night.

Democrats haven’t missed an opportunity to highlight their unity all week, pointing out that Jeffries has received the unanimous 212 votes of his full caucus 13 of the 14 previous votes. Rep. David Trone missed the 12th vote for shoulder surgery Friday morning but had returned in time for the 13th vote Friday afternoon.

“We the people still find ourselves without a constituted government,” Phillips said.

--Candy Woodall

Round 15: McCarthy backer gives a short nomination speech

Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas got right to the point as he nominated Kevin McCarthy on a 15th ballot.

He said the new Congress needs less talk and more action and urged his colleagues to finally put McCarthy over the top.

– David Jackson

Republican chant ‘one more time’

Republicans began chanting “one more time” on the House floor Friday night after switching votes against adjournment to remain in the chamber for a 15th ballot.

At one point cheers erupted from the caucus and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz received hugs and high fives from his colleagues.

-- Rachel Looker

Adjournment fails; on to ballot 15

After a dramatic 14th ballot — which almost got physical on the House floor at one point — failed to hand Kevin McCarthy the speaker's gavel, GOP leadership made a motion to adjourn until Monday.

But that maneuver was blocked by bipartisan group of lawmakers in a late night vote Friday.

— Phillip M. Bailey

House speaker 14th vote: McCarthy polls 216 votes – needed 217

It's official: McCarthy came up a single vote shy of becoming speaker of the House, according to the official tally of a notably tense 14th ballot.

McCarthy recorded 216 votes, but six Republicans would not give him that one last vote.

As he has throughout the week, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries had 212 votes from colleagues.

Another six Republicans voted for Jim Jordan and Andy Biggs, or voted "present" – none gave McCarthy the single vote he needed to become speaker.

– David Jackson

McCarthy standoff:A visual guide to a House speaker deadlock not seen for a century

House floor gets heated as McCarthy appears in gridlock

In the vote that could have given the speaker’s gavel to McCarthy, Republican supporters of former President Donald Trump supporters have prevented the California representative from winning the ballot.

Aides of McCarthy and Rep. Matt Gaetz, who voted present in the latest round, held animated discussions on the floor.

The tension of the situation resulted in what appeared to be an altercation on the floor involving Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers, who charged at the group and walked out of the chamber.

The chaos happens on the two year anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol where the two holdouts-- Gaetz and Boebert-- refuse to vote for McCarthy are strong Trump supporters.

- Rachel Looker

What's to come:McCarthy House speaker drama signals more fights no matter who holds gavel, lawmakers say

McCarthy in a better position to win

About halfway through the historic 14th vote for speaker, the House Republican Leader was in his best position of the week.

One of his biggest detractors, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, voted present, giving him one fewer vote against him compared to previous rounds.

Another detractor, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, missed his vote. He could come back at the end of voting to cast a ballot, but if he doesn’t vote it will lower the total of voting members McCarthy needs to clinch the speakership.

-- Candy Woodall

Jeffries nominated a 14th time

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries was nominated for a 14th time, and once again the nomination came from House Democratic Chair Pete Aguilar.

Democrats have touted their unity all week, pointing out that Jeffries has received the unanimous 212 votes of his full caucus 12 of the 13 previous votes. Rep. David Trone missed the 12th vote for shoulder surgery Friday morning but had returned in time for the 13th vote Friday afternoon.

On Friday night, Aguilar used much of his speech to thank everyone for whom the Capitol is a workplace and called out Republicans for two years ago objecting to the 2020 presidential election and peaceful transfer of power.

-- Candy Woodall

The Democratic leader:Who is Hakeem Jeffries in Congress? What to know about the Brooklyn Rep. set to replace Pelosi

Rep. McHenry nominates McCarthy in 14th ballot

North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry nominated McCarthy in the 14th ballot.

McHenry, who said he served with Kevin in his entirety of tenure in the House, said McCarthy’s leadership style has been lacking in the House for too long and called the California representative “unflinchingly optimistic” and relentless.

“Over these last few days, Kevin McCarthy has allowed this process to work among House Republicans and has empowered members to come together to find consensus on behalf of conservative policy and a greater involvement of all voices throughout the conference,” he said.

“The man does not quit,” McHenry added.

-- Rachel Looker

Who is the GOP leader?:Kevin McCarthy was once rejected for a House internship. Now he could become the next speaker

They're off: House begins night session

The House kicked off a night session Friday with apparent confidence that Kevin McCarthy will finally be elected speaker.

Even the House chaplain expressed optimism that "at last" they are on "the threshold of a new Congress."

– David Jackson

Who is House Clerk Cheryl Johnson?

According to her official bio, Johnson is the 36th person to serve as clerk and was first sworn in by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2019. She is the first Black woman to preside over the House chamber.

A New Orleans native, Johnson has worked for the House for nearly two decades, serving as chief investigative counsel and spokesperson for the Committee on Education and the Workforce. She was also counsel for the committee with oversight over the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution, where she worked for 10 years liaising with congressional committees with jurisdiction over its funding.

A journalism and mass communication graduate of the University of Iowa, Johnson got her law degree from Howard University and graduated from the senior management program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

-- Associated Press

Rep. Gaetz: ‘We’ll see how it goes’

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who previously nominated former President Donald Trump for speaker, told reporters outside the House floor that he is excited about the changes that have been made in negotiations.

“We’re still negotiating on spending, on the rules, and we'll see how it goes tonight,” he said.

-Rachel Looker

Gaetz and more:Who are the Republicans balking at Kevin McCarthy as a House speaker?

McCarthy: ‘We’ll get it done tonight’

McCarthy told reporters after the 13th ballot that he will have the votes needed tonight to win the speakership.

“We’ll get it done tonight,” he said, later adding, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

McCarthy said the breaking points in the negotiations were getting his dissenters together and finding the ability to work together.

“I think at the end if the day we’re going to be more effective, more efficient,” he said.

He added because the vote for speaker took this long, “now we’ve learned how to govern.”

-- Rachel Looker

Day 2 of 4 (so far):McCarthy keeps losing, Biden mocks House GOP: 5 takeaways from Day 2 of the new Congress

Vote to adjourn underway

After a thirteenth round of voting once again failed to produce a new speaker of the House, GOP Rep. Steve Scalise moved to adjourn until 10 p.m. tonight.

Democrats were vocally opposed, and members are now voting on the motion. If passed, the House would gather back in less than seven hours for the fourteenth vote in four days.

-- Savannah Kuchar

The process explained:What happens after McCarthy loses multiple speaker votes? Here's how it works.

Speaker of the House vote 13: McCarthy still a few votes away

McCarthy and his allies were unable to win the speakership.

The 13th ballot again gave McCarthy 214 votes, according to the official House tally, three less than he needed to claim the House Speakers' job.

Six Republicans continued to vote for Jim Jordan, denying the majority to McCarthy.

Democrat Hakeem Jeffries again recorded 212 votes from minority party colleagues.

– David Jackson

McCarthy standoff:A visual guide to a House speaker deadlock not seen for a century

McCarthy inches closer, but appears to fall short again

House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy is closer to holding the speaker’s gavel, but he still doesn’t have the votes.

McCarthy appeared to pick up 15 votes in his favor after two rounds of voting—the 13th round overall.

The Republicans he flipped are Reps. Josh Brecheen, Dan Bishop, Mike Cloud, Andy Clyde, Byron Donalds, Paul Gosar, Andy Harris, Anna Paulina Luna, Mary Miller, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Scott Perry, Chip Roy and Keith Self. And Victoria Spartz switched her vote from present to McCarthy.

He is still a few votes short because of a small group of conservatives still voting against him: Reps. Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Eli Crane, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good and Matt Rosendale.

--Candy Woodall

Day one recap:House adjourns without a new speaker as McCarthy loses three rounds of voting

Comer nominates McCarthy for round 13

Republican James Comer stepped up to nominate McCarthy for the 13th ballot, arguing Democrats have failed to hold President Joe Biden accountable.

“In a Republican majority under Speaker Kevin McCarthy the forgotten, working men and women’s voices will finally be heard and represented,” he said.

Comer, of Kentucky, will be chairman of the House Oversight Committee in the 118th Congress.

— Phillip M. Bailey

Popcorn and penalty kicks:McCarthy's push to become House speaker is sparking jokes on Twitter

New McCarthy backers hint at compromise framework

A group of GOP lawmakers, who were among the McCarthy dissenters who flipped their vote to McCarthy in the 12th ballot, told reporters that the party has agreed to a framework as ongoing conversations continue.

“It is the framework of an agreement in good faith that allows us to keep moving forward,” said Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry.

The group would not provide specifics, but said the framework involves the motion to vacate, spending and “conservative representation.”

- Rachel Looker and Sarah Elbeshbishi

The holdouts:Who are the Republicans balking at Kevin McCarthy as a House speaker?

Ballot 13: McCarthy now unopposed by any Republican nominee

This may be the big vote for House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy - critics did not nominate an alternative to run against him, the first time that has happened during this week-long standoff.

McCarthy fell just a few votes short in the most recent vote, and a new vote is underway.

– David Jackson

Intern to speaker -- maybe:Kevin McCarthy was once rejected for a House internship. Now he could become the next speaker

McCarthy gets close to being speaker - very close

The official tally on McCarthy's best ballot: 213 votes, just a few short of what he needs to become speaker of the House.

McCarthy's specific magic number is uncertain: It could be 217 or 216, depending on how many House members vote; some members are absent or may choose not to vote on a future ballot.

A 13th ballot is expected soon.

Republicans are now pressuring the seven holdouts who voted for McCarthy alternatives; Jim Jordan received four votes and Kevin Hern took three, and both of them are supporting McCarthy.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries pulled 211 votes from colleagues – the first time he has not led the balloting this week.

– David Jackson

The process explained:What happens after McCarthy loses multiple speaker votes? Here's how it works.

Who are the Republican vote McCarthy flipped?

House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy had his best showing of the week on Friday, flipping 14 of his 20 detractors in his historic bid for speaker.

The Republicans he flipped are Reps. Josh Brecheen, Dan Bishop, Mike Cloud, Andy Clyde, Byron Donalds, Paul Gosar, Anna Paulina Luna, Mary Miller, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Scott Perry, Chip Roy and Keith Self. And Victoria Spartz switched her vote from present to McCarthy.

Though McCarthy flipped more than half of his opposition, he still has some hardline conservatives against him: Reps. Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Eli Crane, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good, Andy Harris and Matt Rosendale.

-- Candy Woodall

Key votes in the House:Who are the Republicans balking at Kevin McCarthy as a House speaker?

McCarthy momentum: Would-be House Speaker picks up votes, falls just a little short

Kevin McCarthy finally picked up some momentum Friday, winning at least 14 new votes on the week's 12th ballot and getting very close to the majority he needs to claim the speaker's job.

With the official results still being tallied, McCarthy tentatively won at least 214 votes, just short of the House majority he needs to become speaker. That number is a moving target of 217 or 216 because some members are not casting votes.

The new McCarthy supporters had voted for other people during the three previous days, but went with the Republican leader he made concessions to them over rules and committee assignments.

McCarthy and allies hope the new numbers will pressure remaining opponents to cave and end this impasse.

Another vote is likely to happen soon.

– David Jackson

Gaetz nominates Jordan, saying 'McCarthy doesn't have the votes'

Gaetz nominates Jordan, saying "McCarthy doesn't have the votes"

After stating that Rep. Kevin McCarthy would still not have enough backing for the role of speaker, Rep. Matt Gaetz nominated Rep. Jim Jordan in the twelfth round of voting.

"Mr. McCarthy doesn't have the votes today. He will not have the votes tomorrow. And he will not have the votes next week, next month, next year," Gaetz said.

In his address, Gaetz called the Ohio Rep. "the Lebron James of fundraising." Gaetz had previously nominated Jordan on the first day of voting, despite Jordan consistently casting his own vote for McCarthy in each round. Jordan was not nominated again Wednesday or Thursday.

-- Savannah Kuchar

Clyburn evokes Jan. 6 when nominating Jeffries

South Carolina Democrat James Clyburn was the first lawmaker to remind colleagues about the 2-year anniversary of the insurrectionist attack on the Capitol when rising to nominate colleague Hakeem Jeffries for the speakership.

“Exactly two years ago today our resolve was tested when a violent mob of insurrections attacked our Capitol, threatened the integrity of this democracy and undermined our Constitution,” he said.

Earlier on Friday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers honored those impacted, injured and killed during the riot.

Clyburn, a veteran Democratic leader, also bemoaned how the chaos of the week has paralyzed Congress, saying Jeffries is “prepared to lead” and will protect democracy.

The 212 House Democrats have remained united behind Jeffries, of New York, during the entire saga.

— Phillip M. Bailey

McCarthy backer laments “dentistry of last few days”

In re-nominating McCarthy for the speaker's job, Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Cal., opened Day Four with a vivid and painful metaphor for the process.

The "dentistry of last few days” has been painful for everybody, Garcia said ahead of a 12th ballot in the speaker's race.

Republicans are still trying to drill down to a resolution.

– David Jackson

Most of McCarthy’s detractors received campaign money from him

Thirteen of the 20 people who keep voting against Kevin McCarthy for speaker received campaign money this cycle from McCarthy’s political action committee, Majority Committee PAC, according to records from the Federal Election Commission.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/06/kevin-mccarthy-campaign-money-speaker-race/10996257002/

They include Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, leader of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, and Byron Donalds of Florida, who at first voted for McCarthy but then switched his vote, and ended up becoming a candidate for speaker himself.

Seven of the 20 received no money from McCarthy’s main fundraising PACs. They include Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.

— Erin Mansfield

House speakership still undecided

As the first week of the 118th Congress comes to a close, a House speaker has not yet been selected.

Though House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has consistently won a majority of Republican votes, some 20 conservatives refuse to cast votes in his favor, preferring candidates like Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., or Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. Without those votes, McCarthy is short of the votes needed to win the powerful position.

Democrats have remained united around leader Hakeem Jeffries, all 212 voting in his favor in all 10 votes.

The situation has left Congress stymied, since no member of the House of Representatives can be sworn in and no rules can be adopted until someone is selected for the role.

– Ella Lee

What to expect on Day 4

When the House gavels in at noon Friday, it will become evident if Thursday negotiations were fruitful for House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy who has lost 11 consecutive votes for speaker.

Lawmakers and political analysts in both parties discussed last night the possibility of a deal that could appease 20 rebels in his right flank and whether at least 16 of them would be swayed to McCarthy’s side.

On the fourth day of a new Congress without a speaker and sworn-in members, all eyes will be on the competing GOP factions of McCarthy and his 200 allies and his 20 detractors led by Reps. Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy, Scott Perry and Andy Biggs.

The math allows McCarthy to lose four of the 20 in his bid for speaker. But after days of a cumbersome process, any movement to his side would be seen as a huge momentum shift for the caucus leader.

It’s possible a historic 12th vote could begin at noon, or some members could push for an adjournment until Monday, leaving Congress without a House speaker or sworn-in representatives for the weekend. McCarthy is not in favor of adjourning for the weekend and has said the House shouldn't leave if its work isn't done.

“Progress” has been the magic word all week, with both McCarthy allies and opponents telling reporters an agreement was near.

Friday could prove them right or wrong.

-- Candy Woodall

House to honor Jan. 6 anniversary

Before the House reconvenes Friday, Democrats and Republicans will remember the Jan. 6 anniversary in press conferences to honor those who were killed, injured and impacted by the violent attack two years ago.

At 9:30 a.m. on the House Triangle, Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Dean Phillips of Minnesota will mark the anniversary and highlight the recently passed Electoral Count Reform Act they say “will help preserve the integrity of our elections and protect democracy.”

At 10 a.m. on the House steps, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries will hold a bipartisan remembrance with Republicans, recognizing two years since the attack.

Many House members serving today were there on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob stormed the Capitol.

-- Candy Woodall

McCarthy faces rocky road to speakership as hardliners ...

CNN —

Members of the pro-Trump House Freedom Caucus are withholding their support for House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy’s speakership bid and have begun to lay out their list of demands, putting the California Republican’s path to securing 218 votes in peril if the party ultimately takes the House with a slim majority.

McCarthy and his team are confident he will ultimately get the votes to be speaker. But the conservative hardliners are emboldened by the likelihood of a narrow House GOP majority and are threatening to withhold their support – something that could imperil his bid or force him to make deals to weaken the speakership, something he has long resisted.

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas told reporters that “no one currently has 218” votes for speaker, which is the magic number McCarthy would need to secure the speaker’s gavel on the House floor in January, and said he wants McCarthy to list in greater detail his plans for a wide array of investigations into the Biden administration. And Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona complained that McCarthy seemed to backpedal on whether he’d be willing to launch impeachment proceedings into President Joe Biden or members of his Cabinet.

“I’ve heard from multiple of my constituents who question the wisdom of proceeding forward with that leadership,” Biggs said, adding that there needs to be a “frank conversation” about who they elect for the top job.

Members of the group are also pushing to make it easier for lawmakers to call for floor votes on ousting a sitting speaker. That is something that McCarthy is adamantly against and was wielded over former Speaker John Boehner before he eventually resigned.

Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado said it was a “red line” for her, but not everyone in the Freedom Caucus is united on whether to make that a hard line.

The Freedom Caucus, a group that includes dozens of hardline members, have been meeting in Washington, DC, this week for their new member orientation, where they have begun to plot out their strategy for the speaker’s race. With a slimmer-than-expected majority, they see an opportunity, and are planning to use their leverage to get more power in a GOP-led House.

But the group’s push to extract concessions from McCarthy has exacerbated tensions inside the party. Said one senior GOP lawmaker: “They are a bunch of selfish, prima dona a**holes who want attention for themselves. They are trading effectiveness for the warm embrace of their social media followers.”

McCarthy, who has been working the phones locking down support from across the conference and received former President Donald Trump’s endorsement on Monday, still remains a frontrunner for the job, and no serious challenger has emerged. And two would-be challengers, Reps. Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise, have lined up behind his speakership bid.

McCarthy also has time to win over critics. The GOP’s internal leadership elections, where he only needs a simple majority to win his party’s nomination for speaker, are next week, but the floor vote where McCarthy needs a majority of the entire House is not until January.

His ability to round up 218 votes for speaker will ultimately depend on two things: the size of his majority and whether he’s willing to cut deals with the conservatives that he assiduously courted after they denied him the speakership in 2015. So far, however, McCarthy has not made any promises or given in their demands, with sources saying he has just been in listening mode with potential holdouts.

CNN has yet to project which party will have control of the House of Representatives, though as of Friday morning, CNN has projected that Republicans have 211 seats to Democrats’ 198.

Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina said McCarthy personally called and asked for his support for speaker, but Norman wouldn’t commit. He told McCarthy there’s a group of them that wants to meet in person, which he said McCarthy was amenable to.

Norman said the group hopes to formalize a lengthier list of all the rules changes they are seeking. They are also pushing to delay next week’s internal leadership elections, though there is no indication McCarthy plans to do so.

“I’m not supporting anybody until I know what the blueprint is,” Norman said.

When asked whether McCarthy should get credit for delivering the majority, Norman responded: “The taxpayers that voted the representatives in deserve the credit.”

Rep. Bob Good, a member of the Freedom Caucus, told reporters that McCarthy “has not done anything to earn my vote” for speaker.

The Virginia Republican also predicted that “there will be a challenge to (McCarthy) as a speaker candidate,” a possibility that CNN first reported was under consideration by the group.

Such a challenge would be more of a protest candidate than a serious one. The group just wants to show McCarthy during next week’s internal GOP leadership elections that he doesn’t have the floor votes for speaker, in hopes of forcing him to the negotiating table.

But there is at least one member who has said there is nothing McCarthy could do to earn his vote. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida said on his podcast that not only was McCarthy not his first choice to lead, he was not “even in my top 100”.

“With a slim majority, we shouldn’t be starting the C team,” Gaetz said. “We need to put our star players in a position to shine brightest so that we can attract more people to our policies and ideas.”

Melanie Zanona Manu Raju
Melanie Zanona
Manu Raju

House speaker elections and floor fights, explained | CNN Politics

A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

CNN —

The 118th Congress will begin on Tuesday, bringing in a new era of Republican control of the House and a high-stakes leadership fight that will determine who controls the speaker’s gavel.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy has the support of a majority of Republicans to be the GOP leader but has so far not secured enough votes to become House speaker.

What’s standing between McCarthy and the position he has long sought is a handful of conservative lawmakers. These conservatives, many members of the Freedom Caucus, don’t trust McCarthy and have not yet been convinced by him or those lobbying on his behalf, including former President Donald Trump, that McCarthy will appropriately stand up to Democrats and President Joe Biden.

Republicans will only have a slim majority – 222 Republicans compared with 212 Democrats – which means McCarthy can’t afford many defections if he is to find the 218 votes needed to make him speaker of the House.

How the day will unfold

Congress can’t really function until it has a House speaker; the position is filled on the first day of a new Congress, January 3, even before members-elect take the oath of office.

Members will meet in the morning to tie off loose ends and close the 117th Congress. Then, at noon Eastern time, the clerk of the House will gavel in the new Congress and will call a quorum. The first major order of business will be the speaker election. Democrats will place Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ name into nomination, and Republicans are set to place McCarthy’s name.

Then the clerk will call the roll and each member will state the name of the person whom they are voting for. If no one amasses a majority of votes cast, it goes to a second ballot. If another ballot is needed, it is not clear if Congress will recess the chamber or if members will continue voting.

Members can vote for anyone they want

There’s no rule that the speaker is a House member. Members can vote for anyone, and they can protest by skipping the vote or voting “present.” The vast majority will vote for their party’s leader.

Both parties met last year to determine their leadership, with Democrats selecting Jeffries and Republicans agreeing to nominate McCarthy, but by a margin that signaled a possible floor fight ahead.

McCarthy faces a long-shot challenger: hard-right Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona. The challenge highlights the opposition McCarthy is up against and could draw votes away from him.

If no one wins a majority …

Lawmakers will continue voting until someone wins the majority. They can take successive votes on January 3. They can adjourn to horse trade and deal among themselves. But the House does not kick off the new Congress until a speaker is elected.

This is what people are talking about when they refer to a “floor fight.” It’s when House members require multiple ballots, or votes, to elect their speaker.

It’s been 100 years

The chamber of the House of Representatives is seen at the Capitol on February 28, 2022. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

In the 200-plus years since the first two-year Congress met in 1789, such floor fights have occurred just 14 times, according to the House historian.

All but one of those multi-ballot speaker elections took place before the Civil War as the two-party system was evolving. Back then, floor fights were routine.

A floor fight has only taken place once since the Civil War, exactly 100 years ago, when it took nine ballots for Rep. Frederick Gillett of Massachusetts to be elected speaker in 1923.

There is some mystery here

Politico notes it’s been so long that the exact procedure if no one has a majority is a smidge unclear. A Congressional Research Service brief on electing the speaker simply says that if no one gets a majority, the vote is repeated.

There have been exceptions to the majority vote

Way back in 1849, the House had been in session so long without being able to elect a speaker – 19 days – that members voted to elect their speaker with a plurality rather than a majority. Members ultimately confirmed the plurality election with a majority vote.

The epic record for a floor fight

In 1855 and 1856, it took 133 separate votes for Rep. Nathaniel Banks of Massachusetts to be elected, again by a plurality and not a majority.

The process stretched over more than a month and included a sort of inquisition on the House floor of the three contenders. They answered questions about their view of the expansion of slavery. Read more from the House historian’s website.

It’s also interesting to read about Banks; his official House biography notes he was elected to office as a Republican, an independent, a member of the America Party and as a Democrat.

It doesn’t always require 218 votes

One important thing to remember is that McCarthy does not technically need 218 votes to become speaker. A majority of those present and voting is required to get the speakership, which is usually 218 lawmakers. But if enough people skip the vote or vote “present,” the number of votes required for a majority can drop.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was elected with 216 votes in 2021.

Former Speaker John Boehner won reelection to the post with 216 votes in 2015 after beating back a conservative rebellion like the one McCarthy is dealing with now.

Most of the negotiation and arm-twisting happens long before the floor vote. Pelosi got 220 votes in 2019 after turning most of the fellow Democrats who opposed her. She did so by agreeing to serve only another few years as speaker, a pledge she kept by announcing her decision in November to not seek reelection for leadership.

Ability to remove the speaker is a sticking point

Conservatives who oppose McCarthy have said they want to reinstate a dormant and arcane power to allow any member to call for a vote to remove the speaker at any time. Read more about the “motion to vacate.”

Republicans who oppose McCarthy see it as a tool for accountability. McCarthy and his allies see it as a recipe for bad governance if he is constantly at risk of losing the post that’s so difficult for him to attain.

This story has been updated with additional information.

Who is Byron Donalds? GOP rebels' nominee for Speaker of the ...

Republican opponents of Kevin McCarthy in the House of Representatives finally acquiesced on Friday, granting McCarthy the speakership at last. After a contentious 15-round fight over who would occupy the role, many of these rebels had originally gravitated to Rep. Byron Donalds, a second-term congressman from Florida who is considered an ascendent figure in the GOP.

In a fourth-round vote Wednesday, the 20 representatives standing in the way of a McCarthy speakership shifted their votes to Donalds. Here's what you need to know about his views and political profile.

Live updates:'Groundhog Day': House voting in round six for speaker after Kevin McCarthy loses again

Who is Byron Donalds?

Representative Byron Donalds serves District 19 in Southwest Florida.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, he moved to the Sunshine State for college, originally attending Florida A&M before transferring to Florida State University where he graduated with a degree in finance. Post-grad Donalds worked at TIB Bank, CMG Life Services and Moran Wealth in Naples.

He was elected to the Florida State House of Representatives in 2016, then later to the House in 2020. During that race, Donalds beat out six better-funded Republican opponents in his primary, securing a narrow victory.

One of two Black Republicans in the House, 44-year-old Donalds would make history were he elected, becoming the first Black speaker of the house.

What are Byron Donalds political views?

Donalds is a fierce conservative, known for his strong views on the importance of small government. Upon his election to Congress, Donalds aligned himself with what he called the 'Freedom Force' -- a conservative cadre seemingly formed in contrast to the Democrat's progressive 'Squad.'

Donalds is a staunch supporter of the second amendment, stating on his website: "I have proudly stood against misguided gun control legislation that infringes upon your rights throughout my public service career."

Donalds has also championed school choice over the years, making it a key issue during both his time in the state and national legislatures.

He falls squarely in the pro-life camp and has been vocal in his opposition to abortion. "Every life is valuable, from conception to natural death, and I will fight to protect the life of every unborn child without exception," his campaign materials read.

Though Donalds had demonstrated fealty to former President Donald Trump in the past, even earning an endorsement during his 2020 campaign, some speculate he may not be a MAGA purist as he did not endorse Trump for a presidential run in 2024.

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy's speaker chaos speaks ...

We will use the details you have shared to manage your registration. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your registration as described in our Privacy Policy.

Would you like to receive The WeekDay newsletter ?

The WeekDay newsletter provides you with a daily digest of news and analysis.

We will use the details you have shared to manage your newsletter subscription. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your subscription as described in our Privacy Policy.

We will use the information you have shared for carefully considered and specific purposes, where we believe we have a legitimate case to do so, for example to send you communications about similar products and services we offer. You can find out more about our legitimate interest activity in our Privacy Policy.

If you wish to object to the use of your data in this way, please tick here.

'We' includes The Week and other Future Publishing Limited brands as detailed here.

Chaotic House speaker vote, Jan. 6 anniversary: this week in politics

The 118th Congress began this week with drama on the House side. After four days and 15 votes —the longest selection process since just before the Civil War — the chamber finally has a speaker. GOP leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy managed to win early Saturday morning after negotiating with a holdout faction within his party.

House Republicans brace for doomsday scenario if McCarthy falls ...

CNN —

As a right-wing faction threatens to tank his speakership ambitions, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy delivered a promise: “I’ll never leave,” making clear he has no plans to drop out of the race even if the fight goes to many ballots on the floor.

“I’ll get 218,” McCarthy told CNN, referring to the votes he’d need to become House speaker.

But Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, a conservative hardliner who is challenging McCarthy to be the most powerful member of Congress, doubled down on his commitment to stop the California Republican’s ascension.

“I’m not bluffing,” Biggs told CNN on Thursday when asked if he would drop out.

With the increasing likelihood that the speaker’s race could go to multiple ballots – something that hasn’t happened since 1923 – McCarthy’s allies and foes alike are starting to quietly game out the next steps if he can’t get the necessary 218 votes on the first round and they move into uncharted territory.

Video Ad Feedback Bash asks Pelosi if McCarthy has what it takes to be House Speaker. See her response 02:37 - Source: CNN

McCarthy’s supporters are vowing to keep voting for him on multiple ballots, and GOP sources said there are early discussions about a floor strategy for that potential scenario, including whether to recess the House or let the votes keep rolling – no matter how long it takes.

To prevent that from happening, McCarthy and his team have been engaged in serious talks with a group of conservatives, including over potentially giving them influential committee assignments and more power to drive the legislative process. GOP sources said those negotiations are still early in the process and could ultimately end up giving the group some aspect of what the hardliners desperately want: additional power to seek a sitting speaker’s ouster with a vote on the floor.

Asked if he would drop out of the race if he doesn’t get 218 votes on the first ballot, Biggs refused to say.

“I’m not going to talk about hypotheticals,” said Biggs, who lost his conference’s nomination to become speaker last month after securing 31 votes.

But in the case of a doomsday scenario – where neither McCarthy nor Biggs can get 218 votes on January 3 and neither drops out – some pro-McCarthy Republicans are signaling support for a different approach. Some said they would be willing to work with Democrats to find a moderate Republican who can get the 218 votes to clinch the gavel – a long-shot idea that underscores the uncertainty looming over the speaker’s race.

“Our initial plan is vote for Kevin and let him fight this out repeatedly. … But if they think they’re going to use this to infinity to drive him out, well, we’re not going to bend to their will,” said Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican.

Bacon added if GOP hardliners don’t bend, then he would be willing to work with Democrats to find another more moderate Republican to secure the 218 votes to become speaker.

“If a small group refuses to play ball and be part of the team, then we’ll work across the aisle to find an agreeable Republican,” Bacon said. “But I hope we don’t get there.”

McCarthy’s detractors don’t buy it.

“There are very significant rules, changes being discussed that would open the House up, that would be transformative, that would give us the ability to actually legislate and represent our constituents,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida who said he’s a “hard no” on McCarthy. “And whoever is speaker is going to have to agree to those rules, I think. And I don’t think that person will be Kevin McCarthy because Kevin McCarthy won’t have 218 votes.”

Gaetz added: “I think the person who is ultimately going to be the speaker isn’t even the candidate yet.”

Indeed, the small group of Republicans known as the “Never Kevin” movement – confident that Biggs could not win a majority of the House – has been trying to recruit a viable alternative, and claim “several” Republicans have privately told them they would be interested in running if McCarthy drops out. Their goal with voting for Biggs is to show that McCarthy is weak on the first ballot, which they hope would inspire other candidates to jump in.

“How many members vote for someone else will show the strength (of the anti-McCarthy group),” Rep. Bob Good, a Virginia Republican who is a “hard no” on McCarthy, told CNN. “I think the second ballot is going to have more candidates. … There are already Republicans letting us know they’d like to be considered.”

Even House Republicans who are supporting McCarthy predicted that a number of lawmakers would run if McCarthy withdrew his name, with some saying that House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, McCarthy’s top deputy, would emerge as the front runner in that case.

“If at some point, if Kevin did take his name out, then you would have good people (running). Scalise would probably be the guy,” one GOP lawmaker said.

Scalise has repeatedly vowed to support McCarthy and refused to speculate on whether he would jump into the race if the GOP leader can’t get the votes.

“No, I’m not going to get into speculation,” Scalise told CNN. “Obviously, our focus is on getting it resolved by January 3. And there’s a lot of conversations that everybody has been having, Kevin, surely, with the members who have expressed concerns.”

Rep. Jim Jordan, the conservative set to become the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, went even further, ruling out jumping into the race even though Gaetz and other hardliners have urged him to seek the speakership.

“No,” Jordan said when asked if he’d run if McCarthy couldn’t get the votes. “I want to chair the Judiciary Committee.”

McCarthy’s weighs more concessions

With 222 GOP seats next year, McCarthy can only afford to lose four Republican votes and still win the speakership. But he and his team are still hopeful he can win on the first round as he has been working both publicly and privately to win over holdouts. So far, at least five Republicans have promised to oppose him on the floor – but in a positive sign for McCarthy, one of them has shown he’s gettable.

“I will vote for Andy for speaker, subject to what we’re discussing,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican after leaving a meeting in McCarthy’s office on Wednesday. He later added: “All this is positive. We’re having good change, regardless of what happens. And you’ll see more of it.”

In addition to those five, a new group of seven Republican hardliners on Thursday laid out a list of conditions to earn their vote, although they did not specifically threaten to vote against McCarthy if their demands aren’t met.

Video Ad Feedback GOP lawmaker explains why he won't vote for McCarthy to become House Speaker 03:08 - Source: CNN

Their list of demands – which shows the work McCarthy needs to do to get to 218 – includes a promise that leaders won’t play in primaries, restoring the motion to vacate the speaker’s chair, placing more conservatives on key committees, giving members at least 72 hours to read bill text before a vote, and committing to using the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip to demand more spending cuts, according to a copy of the letter obtained by CNN.

McCarthy has already begun brokering some rules changes to empower rank-and-file members, created a new select committee on China, vowed to boot some Democratic lawmakers from their committees, and sketched out in greater detail his investigative plans – including a potential impeachment inquiry into Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

But McCarthy still has additional levers he could pull. Conservative hardliners are pushing for more representation on the powerful House Rules Committee, a leadership-aligned panel that decides how and when bills come to the floor. In one private meeting with a member of the House Freedom Caucus, McCarthy was urged to take a harder public stance on the coming policy issues for next year, according to a person familiar with the matter.

And the anti-McCarthy group is also still pressing for a process that would allow any single member to hold a floor vote on ousting the sitting speaker, which was wielded over former Speaker John Boehner before he was forced out of the job by the far right in 2015.

McCarthy has been adamantly opposed to restoring the “motion to vacate the chair,” and a majority of the House GOP voted against the idea during a during a closed-door meeting last month. When asked by CNN on Thursday if he would visit the issue, McCarthy laughed and refused to answer.

But McCarthy’s detractors said it’s an issue very much still on the table and think he may end up needing to embrace it if he still doesn’t have the speaker votes by January 3. GOP sources told CNN there’s potential room to negotiate to give members more power to call for a vote to oust the speaker – perhaps by allowing the vote to occur if a certain number of members call for one, rather than allowing a single lawmaker to call for a vote as the hardliners want.

“A competent secure leader is not threatened by (the motion to vacate),” Good said. “And so, yeah, that I think that’s central to many members.”

Yet others said what Good and his allies are seeking is a recipe for chaos — and are calling on their colleagues to fall in line.

“I think that’s one of the reasons that we didn’t see a red wave … the idea that people are sick and tired of the noise, and they’re sick and tired of the fighting,” Rep. David Joyce, an Ohio Republican, said of the impact of a January 3 floor fight. “And I know I get that wherever I go in my district is, ‘why can’t you guys just get things done?’”

As McCarthy scrambles to lock down speaker’s votes, he also delayed the GOP’s internal elections for committee chairmanships. There was some speculation that one of the members competing for a gavel, Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida, may retire early if he doesn’t win, which would make McCarthy’s math problem even tougher. But Buchanan vehemently disputed the notion.

“It’s ridiculous, laughable,” he told reporters. “I’m doing everything I can to help get Kevin to 218.”

McCarthy could also try to convince Democrats or his GOP detractors to vote present or not show up to the floor proceedings, which would lower the threshold he needs to become speaker. But McCarthy promised his GOP colleagues he would not court Democratic votes.

Could Democrats join Republicans and select a speaker?

In recent weeks, part of McCarthy’s pitch to his critics has been warning that if they don’t unify, then Democrats could theoretically band together and peel off a few Republicans to elect the next speaker.

Some Democrats have said they would entertain the idea, including Rep. Henry Cuellar, a moderate Democrat from Texas who told CNN some of his GOP colleagues have approached him “informally” about it.

Joyce also said some members have reached out to him about potentially running, but he dismissed it. “At the end of the day, Kevin’s going to be the new speaker.”

New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the next House Democratic leader, said, “there are no behind-the-scenes conversations” that he has had with Republicans to put up an alternative candidate. But he refused to rule out a scenario where his caucus would help elect the next speaker if McCarthy couldn’t get the votes.

Video Ad Feedback Hear if Hakeem Jeffries would be willing to help Kevin McCarthy 02:25 - Source: CNN

“Democrats are in the process of organizing the Democratic Conference,” Jeffries told CNN on Thursday. “Republicans are in the process of organizing the Republican Conference. Let’s see what happens on January 3.”

Some of the potential consensus picks that have been floated included retiring Reps. Fred Upton of Michigan and John Katko of New York, who both voted to impeach Donald Trump for inciting the Capitol insurrection; Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus; and Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, a veteran lawmaker and incoming head of the House Rules Committee.

But that would require agreement from every single Democrat and the help of five Republicans – no easy feat. Upton said he has no plans to be in Washington that day, telling CNN: “I’ll be skiing.”

And progressives like Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York said they would never vote for a GOP speaker candidate, no matter how moderate.

“No,” Bowman said, indicating he’d be voting for Jeffries on every ballot on January 3. “It’s going to be Hakeem.”

But Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman said this has happened before – nearly a decade ago in his state where minority Democrats in the Arkansas legislature joined forces with a handful of Republicans to elect a GOP speaker of their choice. Westerman privately made this case to his colleagues at a closed-door meeting this week.

“I’m concerned about January 3 getting here and us not being able to form a Congress and organize committees and getting delayed in pushing the policy objectives that we want to push,” Westerman said.

Westerman added that the discussion over changing House rules is good for the party. But he added: “I’m not really excited about any type of destructive movement.”

Manu Raju Melanie Zanona
Manu Raju
Melanie Zanona

What to know about upcoming House leadership elections | CNN ...

CNN —

A new Congress won’t be sworn in until January and control of the House has not yet been determined, but Republicans appear on track to recapture the chamber and the race to determine who will serve as the next speaker is underway.

House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has officially declared his bid for the speakership, but is already facing headwinds from members of the hardline, pro-Trump House Freedom Caucus who are threatening to withhold their support as they hope to extract concessions.

On the Democratic side, Nancy Pelosi, the current House speaker, has not yet made clear what her next move will be. Speculation has intensified in Washington over her political future and whether she will run again for the top leadership spot for House Democrats or if she will instead decide to step aside as a new generation of potential leaders waits in the wings.

Timing for internal GOP leadership elections – and the speaker vote

The vote to elect the next speaker will take place in January at the start of the new Congress, but House Republicans will hold their internal leadership elections to pick a Speaker nominee this week.

Republicans are scheduled to hold a candidate forum on Monday evening, followed by leadership elections on Tuesday, November 15, according to a copy of the schedule shared with CNN.

The elections are conducted behind closed doors and are done via secret ballot. In the GOP’s internal leadership elections, McCarthy only needs a simple majority to win his party’s nomination for speaker. That is expected to happen, but McCarthy could still fall short of 218 votes – the magic number needed to win the speaker’s gavel in January.

During that speaker vote, McCarthy will have a higher hurdle to clear. The full House holds a vote on the floor for Speaker and to win, a candidate needs to win a majority of all members, which amounts to 218 votes if no member skips the vote or votes “present.”

When will Democrats hold their election?

House Democrats will hold their internal leadership elections later – the week after Thanksgiving.

House Democratic leadership elections have been announced for Wednesday, November 30. Voting will take place behind closed doors via secret ballot using an app.

To be elected to any position in Democratic leadership, a candidate needs to win a majority among those present and voting. If more than two candidates run and no one wins a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes after the first round of voting will be eliminated and voting will proceed to a second round. That process continues until one candidate wins a majority.

Whoever is elected for the top leadership spot in the House Democratic caucus would serve as their party’s Speaker nominee. But if Republicans have a majority, that nominee would be expected to fall short in the vote by the full House in the Speaker’s election in January and would be poised to become House Minority Leader instead.

The first election on November 30 will be for the next House Democratic Caucus Chair and whoever is elected to that role will administer the rest of the leadership elections.

Who to watch in GOP leadership elections

McCarthy has been working the phones locking down support from across the conference and has received former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. But even if he becomes his party’s speaker nominee, as is expected, he could still face a rocky road to securing the gavel.

Members of the pro-Trump House Freedom Caucus are threatening to withhold support for McCarthy’s speakership bid and have begun to lay out their list of demands, putting the California Republican’s path to securing 218 votes in peril if the party ultimately takes the House with a slim majority. Members of the caucus are emboldened by the likelihood of a narrow House GOP majority – which would make the margins for McCarthy’s vote math tight.

McCarthy and his team are confident he will ultimately get the votes to be speaker. And two would-be challengers, Reps. Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise, the current House GOP whip, have lined up behind his speakership bid.

But if enough members of the Freedom Caucus withhold their support, it could imperil his speaker bid or force him to make deals to weaken the speakership, something he has long resisted.

CNN reported Sunday that Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, a former chairman of the pro-Trump House Freedom Caucus, is considering mounting a long-shot challenge to McCarthy, according to GOP sources familiar with the matter. McCarthy’s team has been prepared for this possibility.

If a challenger does emerge, it would be more of a protest candidate than a serious one. But the House Freedom Caucus is hoping to show McCarthy during the internal GOP leadership elections that he doesn’t have the floor votes for speaker, in hopes of forcing him to the negotiating table.

Republican races besides leader of the party

Aside from the speaker’s race, Republicans’ underwhelming performance in the midterms has scrambled other leadership races.

The race for House GOP whip – a position that will only open up if Republicans win the majority – was already competitive, though Rep. Tom Emmer, who chairs the House GOP’s campaign arm, was seen as having the edge since he was likely to be rewarded if they had a strong night.

Now, Republicans say it could be tougher for Emmer to pull out a win.

Emmer told reporters Tuesday he still plans to run and that he doesn’t know if a smaller majority impacts his bid. But his pitch to members is similar to McCarthy’s, saying: “we delivered.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, a Trump ally and the head of the conservative Republican Study Committee, also officially declared his candidacy for the whip’s position. And Rep. Drew Ferguson of Georgia, the current deputy whip, is also vying for the post, arguing that his experience on the whip’s team will be even more valuable in a slimmer majority, where the chief vote counting job will be crucial for governing.

Who to watch: Nancy Pelosi

What happens in Democratic leadership elections revolves around the key question of what Pelosi decides to do.

Pelosi was asked by CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” on Sunday whether she would make a decision on running for leadership before the party’s leadership elections.

“Of course. Well, you know that I’m not asking anybody – people are campaigning, and that’s a beautiful thing,” the California Democrat told Bash. “And I’m not asking anyone for anything. My members are asking me to consider doing that. But, again, let’s just get through the election.”

If Pelosi decides to run again for the top leadership spot for House Democrats, it will make clear that she is not yet ready to relinquish her role atop the House Democratic caucus. Pelosi, a towering figure in Democratic politics, commands widespread support among her members and is viewed as an effective leader within her party.

But if she runs again for leadership, such a move would also likely surprise, and even frustrate, many in Washington, including members of her own party, who have been anticipating that she might step aside for a new generation of leadership to take the reins.

If Pelosi does not run for the top leadership post, it would set the stage for a major shakeup in House Democratic leadership and mark the end of an era for Washington. The move would kick off a fight for her successor that could expose divisions within the party as other prominent members of the party look to move up the leadership ladder.

Pelosi’s future freezes much of the Democratic races

Until Pelosi makes her announcement, much of the rest of the field is expected to remain essentially frozen in place.

Currently, Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer serves as the No. 2 House Democrat, in the role of House majority leader, and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn serves in the role of House majority whip. Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark serves in the role of assistant Speaker and New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries serves as House Democratic caucus chair.

As potential candidates for the higher rungs of House Democratic leadership wait to see what Pelosi does before publicly making moves, some Democrats vying for other positions in their party’s leadership have already announced their candidacy.

Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado, who currently serves as the co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, has announced his run for caucus chair to replace Jeffries who is term limited.

The race to lead the party’s campaign arm, DCCC chair, is starting to take shape up after the current chair Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York lost his reelection.

Democratic Rep. Tony Cardenas of California announced his race for the spot on Friday but others are being floated as well including Reps. Ami Bera and Sara Jacobs of California.

Clare Foran Melanie Zanona Annie Grayer
Clare Foran
Melanie Zanona
Annie Grayer

Photos: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy | CNN Politics

1. How relevant is this ad to you?

Video player was slow to load content Video content never loaded Ad froze or did not finish loading Video content did not start after ad Audio on ad was too loud Other issues

Nancy Pelosi announces she won't run for leadership post, marking ...

CNN —

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Thursday that she will relinquish her leadership post after leading House Democrats for two decades, building a legacy as one of the most powerful and polarizing figures in American politics.

Pelosi, the first and only woman to serve as speaker, said that she would continue to serve in the House, giving the next generation the opportunity to lead the House Democrats, who will be in the minority next year despite a better-than-expected midterm election performance.

“I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” said Pelosi in the House chamber. “For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect, and I’m grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility.”

Pelosi, 82, rose to the top of the House Democratic caucus in 2002, after leading many in her party against a resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq. She then guided Democrats as they rode the waves of popular opinion, seeing their power swell to a 257-seat majority after the 2008 elections, ultimately crash to a 188-seat minority, and then rise once again.

Her political career was marked by an extraordinary ability to understand and overcome those political shifts, keeping conflicting factions of her party united in passing major legislation. She earned the Speaker’s gavel twice – after the 2006 and 2018 elections – and lost it after the 2010 elections.

Of late, she has conducted a string of accomplishments with one of the slimmest party splits in history, passing a $1.9 trillion pandemic aid package last year and a $750 billion health care, energy and climate bill in August.

Her legislative victories in the Biden era cemented her reputation as one of the most successful party leaders in Congress. During the Obama administration, Pelosi was instrumental to the passage of the massive economic stimulus bill and the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which provides over 35 million Americans health care coverage.

Over the past 20 years, the California liberal has been relentlessly attacked by Republicans, who portray her as the personification of a party for the coastal elite. “We have fired Nancy Pelosi,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Fox News on Wednesday, after Republicans won back the chamber.

In recent years, the anger directed toward her has turned menacing. During the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, pro-Trump rioters searched for her — and last month, a male assailant attacked Paul Pelosi, the speaker’s husband, with a hammer at the couple’s home in San Francisco, while she was in Washington.

Pelosi told CNN’s Anderson Cooper this month that her decision to retire would be influenced by the politically motivated attack. Paul Pelosi was released from the hospital two weeks ago after surgery to repair a skull fracture and injuries to his arm and hands.

After thanking her colleagues for their well-wishes for Paul, the House chamber broke out into a standing ovation.

Democrats now look to finally choose Pelosi’s successor

Pelosi’s long reign became a source of tension within her own party. She won the gavel after the 2018 elections by promising her own party that she would leave her leadership post by 2022.

Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, who previously tried to oust Pelosi, told CNN it’s time for a new chapter.

“She’s a historic speaker who’s accomplished an incredible amount, but I also think there are a lot of Democrats ready for a new chapter,” said Moulton.

But some Democrats praised Pelosi and said they wished she would remain leader. Asked about her decision, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer clutched his chest and said he had pleaded with her to stay.

“I told her when she called me and told me this and all that, I said ‘please change your mind. We need you here,’” Schumer said.

House Democrats appear likely to choose New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, 52, to succeed Pelosi as leader, though Democrats won’t vote until November 30.

After her speech, Pelosi wouldn’t tell reporters who’d she support. But House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn announced they would also step down from their leadership posts, and endorsed Jeffries to succeed Pelosi. Hoyer said Jeffries “will make history for the institution of the House and for our country.” Clyburn added that he hoped Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark and California Rep. Pete Aguilar would join Jeffries in House Democratic leadership.

Before Pelosi’s announcement, Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told CNN that she expects her caucus to throw their support behind Jeffries, and help him become the first Black House Democratic leader.

“If she steps aside, I’m very clear that Hakeem Jeffries is the person that I will be voting for and leading the Congressional Black Caucus to vote for,” said Beatty.”I don’t always speak for everybody, but I’m very comfortable saying I believe that every member of the Congressional Black Caucus would vote for Hakeem Jeffries.”

Retiring North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield, a former CBC chairman, told CNN that Jeffries “is prepared for the moment” if Pelosi steps aside. Butterfield said he thought Jeffries would run.

The longtime Democratic leader told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” on Sunday that members of her caucus had asked her to “consider” running in the party’s leadership elections at the end of the month, adding: “But, again, let’s just get through the election.”

Any decision to run again, Pelosi said, “is about family, and also my colleagues and what we want to do is go forward in a very unified way, as we go forward to prepare for the Congress at hand.”

“Nonetheless, a great deal is at stake because we’ll be in a presidential election. So my decision will again be rooted in the wishes of my family and the wishes of my caucus,” she continued. “But none of it will be very much considered until we see what the outcome of all of this is. And there are all kinds of ways to exert influence.”

Pelosi is a towering figure in American politics with a history-making legacy of shattering glass ceilings as the first and so far only woman to be speaker of the US House of Representatives.

Pelosi was first elected to the House in 1987, when she won a special election to fill a seat representing California’s 5th Congressional District.

When she was first elected speaker, Pelosi reflected on the significance of the event and what it meant for women in the United States.

“This is an historic moment,” she said in a speech after accepting the speaker’s gavel. “It’s an historic moment for the Congress. It’s an historic moment for the women of America.”

This story has been updated with additional developments Thursday.

Alex Rogers Annie Grayer Manu Raju
Alex Rogers
Annie Grayer
Manu Raju