WASHINGTON – House Republicans once again rejected Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the 12th vote of the failed speaker this week.
But McCarthy peeled off some defectors from a small group of right-wing Republicans who have refused to go together with the rest of the party in supporting him for the post of leadership.
The reverse vote, which included staunch McCarthy opponents such as Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), represents a significant improvement from McCarthy. But as long as only five Republicans remain out, the chamber will remain the leader and will not function.
The 14 Republicans who withdrew and now support McCarthy are Reps. Dan Bishop (NC), Josh Brecheen (Okla.), Michael Cloud (Texas), Andrew Clyde (Ga.), Byron Donalds (Fla.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Anna Paulina Luna (Fla.), Mary Miller (Ill.), Ralph Norman (SC), Andy Ogles (Tenn.), Chip Roy (Texas), Keith Self (Texas), Victoria Spartz (Ind.) and Perry .
That leaves seven GOP holdouts. They are Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Bob Good (Va.), Andy Harris (Md.) and Matt Rosendale (Mont. .).
McCarthy’s opponents insist he will continue to fail.
“Mr. McCarthy will not be elected Speaker of the House today,” Rosendale said on his way to the chamber on Friday morning.
McCarthy has tried to win over hate with a package of parliamentary changes and preferential committee seats. Some of the members who changed their vote indicated the new rules in a short statement announcing their vote.
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), one of many former car dealers in the House, is the same as the Freedom Caucus holdouts for finicky car customers.
“Sometimes you try to sell something for somebody and you get the price and you say, ‘Okay, great, we’ll get you ready.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, that’s fine, but I want something else,'” Kelly said.
McCarthy and his allies seemed to increase the pressure on the spread. As Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) delivered his speech nominating Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for speaker, dozens of Republicans stood up and left the room.
The rule change will include empowering individual MPs to request a vote of no confidence in the speaker, making life difficult for McCarthy if he eventually wins the job.
Throughout the week, McCarthy’s supporters have tried to downplay what a colossal disaster it has been for the people, the party and to manage the House at all. The House cannot conduct any business until it elects a speaker, including creating committees or even approving rules that determine what people can wear on the floor of the House.
“Sure, it looks messy,” Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) spoke Wednesday as he stood up to nominate McCarthy for speaker for a fourth term. “Democracy is messy.”
On Thursday, when McCarthy entered the tenth round of being rejected for speakership, Luna stood up to run again. In a firm tone, he said he needed to “clarify” the Democrats.
“What you’re seeing with this discussion doesn’t mean we can’t work together,” he said.