Kevin McCarthy makes major concessions, is set to lose again anyway

Jan. 5, 5:22 p.m.

For the third straight day, the House of Representatives adjourned after failing to select a new speaker. California Rep. Kevin McCarthy lost five rounds of voting on Friday, which is a new personal record after he lost three rounds of voting on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

The adjournment comes after McCarthy allies presented a deal to the 20 Republicans voting against him. He can only have four members of his party vote against him and still become speaker. The House is slated to resume voting at 9 a.m. Pacific time Friday, but a further adjournment into next week seems likely because several pro-McCarthy Republicans are leaving the Capitol for personal reasons.

Gaetz formally nominates Trump, is only person to vote for him

Jan. 5, 4:45 p.m.

During the seventh ballot to elect a new speaker of House of Representatives, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz voted for former President Donald Trump. No other Republicans joined him.

For the 11th ballot, Gaetz delivered a formal nominating speech for Trump. Once again, he was the only person to cast a ballot for Trump. In his nominating speech, Gaetz notably did not say whether Trump actually wants the job. During the vote marathon, Trump posted the below image on Truth Social, and you can gauge for yourself whether he’s taking a bid seriously.

California Rep. Kevin McCarthy and allies have reportedly extended an offer to the 20 GOP holdouts opposing him. The deal was presented after the 10th vote, and NBC News’ Ali Vitali described it as something that “doesn’t give him the speakership, but it allows Team McCarthy to peel off some votes, show they have momentum, and then deal with the stragglers.”

McCarthy loses four times in one day

Jan. 5, 3 p.m.

California Rep. Kevin McCarthy lost three speaker votes on Tuesday and another three on Wednesday. On Thursday, he set a new personal record with four lost votes.

In all of the Thursday votes, 20 Republicans voted against him, and one (Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz) voted present. He can suffer only four defections from his own party. The 10 ballots for speaker of the House of Representatives is the most since 1859.

As the 10th vote unfolded, McCarthy allies worked with holdouts on a deal that South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman — a McCarthy opponent — says has been put in writing. McCarthy allies will likely seek to adjourn the House while the holdouts review the deal.

CNN reported that the deal is unlikely to get McCarthy the votes he needs but should get him closer. An adjournment until next week is possible, as several pro-McCarthy Republicans might be leaving the Capitol for personal reasons.

McCarthy loses for a ninth time, GOP can’t adjourn House

Jan. 5, 1:45 p.m.

For the ninth time in a row, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy has been denied the speakership.

McCarthy can suffer only four GOP defections and still become speaker of the House of Representatives. On both Wednesday and Thursday, 20 Republicans voted against him.

The ninth ballot did feature one small wrinkle: Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert gave a nominating speech for Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern, whom she voted for in the previous round. It’s the first time there have been four nominating speeches. Hern, who is supporting McCarthy, received votes from Boebert and Reps. Matt Gaetz and Josh Brecheen. The other 17 Republicans opposing McCarthy continued to vote for Florida Rep. Byron Donalds.

On both Tuesday and Wednesday, the House held just three consecutive votes before moving to adjourn. On Thursday, however, Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman reported that McCarthy allies weren’t sure if they had the votes to adjourn after the ninth vote because Democrats and some of the anti-McCarthy Republicans would be opposed. Politico’s Olivia Beavers reported that a 10th vote is expected Thursday.

McCarthy loses eighth ballot after trolling from Boebert

Jan. 5, 11:50 a.m.

Another ballot, another Kevin McCarthy defeat.

The California Republican lost an eighth ballot to become speaker of the House of Representatives, with 20 Republicans once again voting for a different candidate. On Wednesday, those 20 all voted for Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, but there was a mild splintering Thursday. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz voted for former President Donald Trump twice (Trump is not actively seeking the speakership), and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert voted for Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern.

When Boebert voted for Hern, she first introduced him as only “Kevin,” an apparent attempt at making people (briefly) believe she would vote for McCarthy after opposing him on the previous seven ballots.

She was met with jeers on the House floor, as members have typically just yelled the name of the person they’re voting for as opposed to giving a long diatribe. With absolutely no movement since Wednesday, it’s currently unclear whether Republicans will move to adjourn again or keep holding votes.

McCarthy loses on seventh ballot, Gaetz votes for Trump

Jan. 5, 10:45 a.m.

California Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s seventh bid to become speaker of the House of Representatives looked a lot like his first six bids.

Once again, 20 Republicans voted for someone other than McCarthy, who can suffer only four defections. Like she did Wednesday, Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz voted “present.” The one change from Wednesday came from Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who cast his vote for former President Donald Trump after previously voting for Florida Rep. Byron Donalds.

The speaker does not need to be a member of the House. Trump has not actively sought the speakership, but as everything with Trump goes, things might change. No other Republican cast a vote for Trump, and the House moved to an eighth ballot once no one received 218 votes.

McCarthy makes concessions but still doesn’t appear to have the votes

Jan 5., 9:30 a.m.

On Wednesday night, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy reportedly made major concessions to the 20 Republicans who opposed his bid to become speaker of the House of Representatives, but it seems the move won’t save him from losing again on a seventh ballot.

To become speaker, McCarthy, with 222 members of his caucus, can suffer only four GOP defections. As of Thursday morning, more than four Republicans said they will continue to vote against McCarthy.

According to CNN, the concessions from McCarthy include giving the hardline House Freedom Caucus more spots on the House Rules Committee and, critically, allowing just one member of the House to call for a vote on removing the speaker at any time (the “motion to vacate the chair” rule). McCarthy had previously strongly resisted the return of the motion to vacate the chair rule.

Still, some holdouts want more, with Oklahoma Rep. Elect Josh Brecheen telling reporters he wants further concessions on government spending. There’s also the question of whether more than four Republicans will not vote for McCarthy under any circumstances. Reps. Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, Andy Biggs and Bob Good have indicated they fall into this camp.

McCarthy himself told reporters ahead of the Thursday vote that talks had been productive, stating, “I think we’re having good discussions and I think everybody wants to find a solution.”