Republicans have officially taken control of the U.S. House of Representatives following their narrow victory in the 2022 midterm elections — but who will lead the party is still in question.
, if they decide to do so in the future. But the GOP leader says other requests — including the far right coalition’s demands that specific members from within their ranks be placed in charge of certain committees — were going too far.
“Last night I was presented [with the idea that] the only way to have 218 votes [was] if I provided certain members with certain positions,”, adding that one of the far right Republican lawmakers making such demands, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, said to McCarthy, “I don’t care if we go to plurality and we elect [Democratic House Leader] Hakeem Jeffries.”
The situation remained heated just ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the 118th session of Congress, when McCarthy met with Republicans behind closed doors and insisted in a “fiery” speech to his colleagues that he had “earned this job,”McCarthy told his fellow Republicans that he wouldn’t make any more concessions to secure the speakership. Perhaps showcasing how difficult his chances remain, Rep.
McCarthy’s inability to win the speakership on the first vote is historic; multiple ballots to decide on the position. The last time multiple votes were needed was 100 years ago, in 1923. It’s possible the situation will take several days — perhaps even weeks — to resolve, especially if the far right coalition of Republicans maintain their steadfast opposition to McCarthy, as they’ve indicated they will.
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