Still No House Speaker as Kevin McCarthy Fails to Win Speakership Again Amid Republican Infighting

By Rick Martin Jan 04 2023, 20:46 PM EST

The drama of the Republican infighting continued as the House of Representatives remains to have not elected a speaker. Kevin McCarthy, who long dreamed of being Speaker of the House, was rejected once again by far-right Republicans for the fourth, fifth, and sixth time.

He needed 218 to secure the Speaker's Gavel, but 20 Republicans, many of whom belong to the far-right Freedom Caucus, refused to vote for him and instead went with Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, known for being especially close to Donald Trump.

The second session failed to once again see a new House Speaker take the mantle that was previously held by Nancy Pelosi, as the House voted to adjourn again without agreeing on who should be second-in-line for the presidency.

According to the Associated Press, the number of Republicans supporting McCarthy is lessening, as the day ended with the California Republican representative with only 201 votes. One Republican who previously sided with him simply voted present.

The political standoff between the Republicans has emboldened the far-right members, with Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who initially voted for McCarthy on Tuesday but flipped on him with the third vote, saying that the standoff was actually "good for America."

Reports indicate that McCarthy is not backing down, and his supporters in the House are reportedly having "animated private discussions" with his detractors.

Byron Donalds Becomes Alternate House Speaker Choice for Republicans Over Kevin McCarthy

As House Republicans continue bickering why Kevin McCarthy should or should not be House Speaker, Florida Representative Byron Donalds is emerging as a new name to challenge the embattled McCarthy for the Speakership.

While Jim Jordan was initially the choice of the far-right and Trump-aligned Republicans, Donalds, who is one of only four black House Republicans, is now becoming a stronger alternative. He was nominated by notable Freedom Caucus member Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado in the fifth round of voting. Donalds seems to like the idea as he voted for himself.

Appearing on Fox News, Donalds stated that after he cast his vote in favor of himself, he spoke to McCarthy and said that he called for leadership that "actually reflects where the American people are, and that leadership is something that is earned here in the nation's Capitol, not just given."

Veterans Urge House Republicans to Condemn Violence as Republican Infighting Continued

The Republican Infighting within the House dominated much of the news as legislation stalled thanks to the GOP not agreeing on who should the House Speaker be. However, as this is happening, several veterans' groups are also speaking to House GOP members and asking to publicly condemn political violence.

According to the Associated Press, this comes as the second anniversary of the January 6 Capitol Insurrection approaches.

Former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone was seen delivering letters signed by over a thousand military veterans, as well as active-duty members, law enforcement officers, and military families. He delivered it to the offices of several far-right Republicans, as well as some in Republican leadership, including James Comer of Kentucky, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Elise Stefanik of New York, and Kevin McCarthy of California. He also personally delivered a copy of the letter to Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had previously thrown her support to the insurrectionists.

Fanone was brutally beaten and tased as Donald Trump supporters took over the Capitol in a bid to keep then-President Trump in power and overturn the elections.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: McCarthy rejected for House speaker for 6th vote in a row - WFAA