Breaking News
Vote for House Speaker Fails for the Fifth Time
This is the fifth time this week that the U.S. The House of Representatives failed to confirm a House speaker, preventing the new class of legislators from being sworn in.
For the fifth time in two days, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) failed to gain a majority of votes to become the next Speaker of the House.
McCarthy earned 201 votes, needing 18 votes, while House Democrats fully supported Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for speaker with 212 votes. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) received 20 votes from House Republicans, with one member voting present.
This implies that the House will hold a sixth ballot to select a speaker.
Members cannot be sworn in to begin the 118th Congress unless the top post in the House is filled.
Prior to leaving the White House on Wednesday, President Joe Biden told reporters that he is hoping the Republicans can “get their act together” in choosing a House speaker.
“I just think that it is embarrassing the way it has taken so long and the way they are treating one another. And the rest of the world looking, looking at, you know, can we get our act together and what I focus on getting things done,” the president said when asked about the GOP fighting over the House speakership.
Biden also said, “This is not a good look” for the U.S. on the world stage, adding that “It’s not a good thing. It’s the United States of America. And I hope they get their act together.”
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