Congress Adjourns For the Night After 11th Failed Vote

The House has voted to adjourn until noon on Friday after Kevin McCarthy lost an 11th speaker vote.

The House has voted to adjourn until noon on Friday after Kevin McCarthy loses 11th speaker vote.

LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/VawVrmeswC pic.twitter.com/lkgb1nRsEA

— ABC News (@ABC) January 6, 2023

“No GOP conference meeting tonight, but will hold a phone call to discuss the path forward tomorrow morning, I’m told,” said Washington Examiner reporter Juliegrace Brufke.

No GOP conference meeting tonight, but will hold a phone call to discuss the path forward tomorrow morning, I’m told

— Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) January 6, 2023

ABC News reported:

The House Republican leadership standoff will stretch into a fourth day on Friday after 11 failed votes so far to decide on a speaker over Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is being stymied by a small group of hardliners. They are demanding concessions, to reshape how the House is run and legislation it prioritizes, or alternative candidates.

The House can conduct no other business — and members can’t be sworn in — until a speaker is chosen.

This is now the longest speaker election since 1859.

While discussions have picked up pace, it’s unclear if the Republican holdouts will change their votes and elect McCarthy for House Speaker.

“We’re still working — that’s a good sign,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX).

Zero Hedge noted:

Throughout the day on Thursday, the office of #3 Republican Tom Emmer of Minnesota became ground zero for negotiations between McCarthy’s side and some of the holdouts – which included Reps. Scott Perry, chair of the conservative Freedo Caucus, Chip Roy, Byron Donalds and Ralph Norman were seen shuffling in and out of, according to the report.

Others involved in the discussions included Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, and Dusty Johnson, who heads the Main Street caucus.

One of the holdouts, Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina suggested he could be convinced to swap his vote from “no” to “yes” if he likes the deal. Norman has been pushing for term limits for lawmakers and a balanced budget, as well as a commitment to use the upcoming debt ceiling debates to cut spending.

That said, McCarthy could still fall short – as Reps. such as Matt Gaetz (FL) and KLauren Boebert (CO) appear to be in the “Never Kevin” camp.

McCarthy ally Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, suggested that negotiations could extend through the weekend.

This is the most contentious House Speaker vote since the pre-Civil War era.

It’s the first time since 1859 that the House Speaker vote has reached 10 or more ballots.

*HOUSE SPEAKER FIGHT GOES TO 10TH VOTE, MOST SINCE PRE-CIVIL WAR

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 5, 2023

*Image from The Gateway Pundit*

As House.gov explained, the 1855 House Speaker vote was the most chaotic in American history.

At the conclusion of the longest and most contentious Speaker election in House history, the House elected Representative Nathaniel Banks of Massachusetts as its presiding officer for the 34th Congress (1855–1857). Sectional conflict over slavery and a rising anti-immigrant mood in the nation contributed to a poisoned and deteriorating political climate. As a sign of the factionalism then existing in the House, more than 21 individuals initially vied for the Speaker’s post when the Members first gathered in December, 1855. After two months and 133 ballots, the House finally chose Representative Banks by a vote of 103 to 100 over Representative William Aiken of South Carolina. Banks, a member of both the nativist American (or “Know-Nothing”) Party and the Free Soil Party, served a term as Speaker before Democrats won control of the chamber in the 35th Congress (1857–1859). Banks retired from the House to serve as governor of Massachusetts.