'First Re-vote in 100 Years' US House Speaker Election Fails to Elect Even in Third Round (Summary)

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House Majority Leader who was considered the likely winner in the U.S. House Speaker election, ultimately failed to secure a majority even after three rounds of voting on the 3rd (local time). This is the first time in 100 years that the U.S. House Speaker election did not conclude in the first ballot. Analysts suggest that political turmoil within the House may continue for some time.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to the Washington Post (WP) and others, in the first round of voting for the U.S. House Speaker election held on the opening day of the 118th Congress, McCarthy secured only 203 votes. To win, a majority of votes excluding abstentions (218 votes) is required, but as initially feared, defections from the Republican hardliners hindered him. This is the first time since 1923, 100 years ago, that the official nominee of the House majority party failed to obtain a majority in the first vote.

Accordingly, the House continued with the second and third rounds of voting until 5 p.m. the same day but ultimately failed to confirm a winner. In the third round, defections from the Republican hardliners actually increased. Since the Republican Party holds 222 seats in the House, McCarthy must face fewer rebel votes to be elected Speaker. McCarthy stated that day, "We will continue until we win," but analyses continue to suggest that the path to becoming Speaker remains uncertain. Currently, the House is recessed and has decided to postpone related votes until noon on the 4th.

These defections were actually a predicted development. Some Republican hardliners, including Representative Bob Good, have publicly criticized McCarthy’s election as Speaker, citing issues such as his insufficient aggressiveness toward the Democratic Party and President Joe Biden. McCarthy also engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations until the day before to persuade the hardliners, but ultimately these efforts ended in failure.

The House Speaker traditionally is the majority party’s leader. In the first round of voting that day, as per convention, the Republicans nominated McCarthy, and the Democrats nominated House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Meanwhile, the Republican hardliners separately nominated Representative Andy Biggs (Arizona), former chairman of the Freedom Caucus. In the first round, McCarthy secured fewer votes than even Jeffries, who received 212 votes. Among Republican members, 19 voted for Biggs or other candidates.

In the third round, defections within the Republican Party increased further. The Republican hardliners nominated Representative Jim Jordan (Ohio) as their candidate in the second and third rounds. In the second round, 19 members, the same as in the first, and in the third round, 20 members voted for candidates other than McCarthy. Local media evaluated that Jordan’s request for support for McCarthy in the second round backfired. This internal Republican division contrasts with the Democrats, who cast all 212 votes for Jeffries across the three rounds.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

WP reported that this is a "blow to McCarthy, who spent recent weeks trying to accommodate and persuade the Republican hardliners." The New York Times (NYT) assessed that "it is insufficient to appease the Republican’s unruly hardliners." There are also expectations that McCarthy will have to make greater concessions to the hardliners, which will take considerable time. The Republican hardliners are currently demanding changes to House rules, such as allowing any member to submit a resolution to remove the Speaker.

Concerns are also rising that political turmoil within the House may be prolonged. Because only after the Speaker is elected can major House schedules, including the formation of standing committees, proceed. A century ago, in 1923, Frederick Gillette was elected Speaker after nine rounds of voting. Before the Civil War, in 1855, the House failed to elect a Speaker after as many as 133 rounds of voting. The NYT reported, "The election that began in December then continued until February of the following year," describing the atmosphere at the time.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.