Extreme Leftist Hakeem Jeffries Gets MORE Votes Than McCarthy in Humiliating House Showdown

Can you imagine if a leftist more extreme than Bernie Sanders or AOC became Speaker of the House?

Well, that’s almost what happened today.

In the first round of voting, freshman congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York got nine more votes than McCarthy.

NINE!

Fortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Jeffries will become the next Speaker.

The person has to win an outright majority – at least 218 votes.

After three votes today, the Republican controlled House still has no Speaker.

This is the first time in 100 years that has happened.

Will Republicans try to blame Trump for this?

They shouldn’t… how could they?

But to everyone watching, this is a sign of how weak and dysfunctional the Republican party truly is.

The Establishment politicians are bringing shame to themselves!

More details on the chaos that ensued below:

Watch: @greggutfeld on McCarthy speakership battle: “Worst game of chicken ever” pic.twitter.com/SiZTuBz3Vi

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) January 4, 2023

Kevin Sheridan, former communications director for Paul Ryan, says it's possible that some dissenting Republicans "may not want to negotiate," and that they may just want to "humiliate Kevin McCarthy," as the House adjourns for the day without electing a speaker. pic.twitter.com/FmHZjWGr9I

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 4, 2023

"[McCarthy] has very few cards left to give away. Certainly this morning… he did not have a conciliatory, let's make a deal, tone. Instead, he was defiant both with reporters and behind closed doors" – @alivitali w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/3U3IiCwFfy

— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) January 4, 2023

Kevin McCarthy moved his stuff into the Speaker’s suite yesterday. Totally jinxed it. pic.twitter.com/uWJLHZ7398

— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) January 4, 2023

Before the day began, it was clear that McCarthy did not have the votes.

However, what makes this even more embarrassing is that Democrats are not only unified, but they are unified behind a very, very extreme candidate.

The Hill provides more details:

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), the incoming House Democratic leader, won nine more votes than House Republican Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) in Tuesday’s first ballot vote for Speaker.

Jeffries won 212 votes in the first ballot to just 203 for McCarthy, but that doesn’t mean he’ll become Speaker.

Neither Jeffries nor McCarthy secured the majority of votes necessary to secure the Speakership, or 218 ballots with all members of the House present and voting.

The Speaker election now kicks immediately into a second vote, giving McCarthy another chance to secure a majority.

The process will continue until a nominee snags the needed majority of votes.

It’s the first time in a century that the Speaker election has needed multiple rounds of voting, notching another historic moment in an unprecedented midterm cycle.

While other congressman received votes, it is most likely that McCarthy will eventually become Speaker, unless another Republican begins gaining momentum and uniting the party.

Democrats began chanting Jeffries’ name on the House floor.

Congressmen even brought popcorn to mock the occasion.

Dems chanted Jeffries' name after nominating the NY Rep. to be Speaker of the House.
He has received more votes than House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy 3x. Ted Lieu brought popcorn for the shit-show! I am here for it! 😂#SpeakerJeffries💙#VotingAgain😂#McCarthyLosingVotes🤭 pic.twitter.com/uwvAXUN3Wr

— 702 Yankee Babe 🇺🇸 (@702YankeeBabe) January 4, 2023

https://twitter.com/WorldWarWang/status/1610424784294416386

"In addition to these maintenance issues, this is a personality contest. People don't like McCarthy for a variety of reasons, although they're all saying on the House floor it's not personal, it's very deeply personal" – @JakeSherman w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/BXUVzo95MJ

— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) January 4, 2023

I’m old enough to remember when Kevin McCarthy made this appalling speech & showed his true colors. We need a fresh perspective. We need @Jim_Jordan for #Speakerofthehouse. pic.twitter.com/YBbNlyxXx0

— Ryan Higgins (@RyanHigginsUS) January 4, 2023

Despite losing the House, Democrats are now mocking Republicans over this chaos.

They are gloating over the infighting that is happening between MAGA Republicans and the Establishment.

Per Yahoo News:

Mr Jeffries wrote: “House Dems are united and ready to get to work,” and added that the GOP had “complete chaos on the other side of the aisle” in comparison.

Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal of Washington noted that members “might be here a while” — a nod to House rules that require a speaker to be elected before any other business can be considered — and observed that GOP control of the chamber “is really getting off to a good start”.

As a second voice vote for speaker began at approximately 3.30 pm Tuesday evening, Republicans still could not agree on a speaker, with Ohio’s Jim Jordan garnering enough votes to sink Mr McCarthy’s bid once more.

Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern noted that his California counterpart’s troubles were “his own fault”.

“Republicans have bent over backwards for the radical right, election deniers & QAnon tinfoil hat brigade,” he wrote on Twitter.

“The extremists hijacked his party. Now they’re trying to hijack Congress. We will fight back,” he added.

NATIONAL POLL: Do You Still Support President Trump?

Another veteran member, Democrat Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, didn’t even bother using many words to describe the chaos on the House floor.

On his own Twitter account, he said the GOP’s actions on their first day in power amounted to an animated GIF of a burning dumpster fire.

Do you agree with those Democrat takes?

And do you want McCarthy as the next Speaker?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

One thing we know for certain: 2023 is definitely off to an interesting start.