01/04/2023

U.S. House Repeatedly Rejects McCarthy Despite Former President's Urgings

McCarthy's backers promptly moved to a sixth vote that appeared would also fail

Mired in a chaotic leadership battle, the U.S. House of Representatives again rejected Republican Kevin McCarthy's bid to lead the chamber on Wednesday as a small group of holdouts in the party defied former President Donald Trump's call for unity.

Despite Trump's appeal, McCarthy fell short in two consecutive votes for House speaker on Wednesday after three losing votes on Tuesday, as roughly 20 Republicans on the party's right flank refused to back a candidate they deemed ideologically unreliable.

McCarthy's backers promptly moved to a sixth vote, but it appeared he would again fail as Republican opponents voted against him. The last time the House failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot was 1923, a century ago.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Reuters.