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A prayer opened the House chamber for the third day to begin additional ballots for the election of its Speaker amidst chaos, drama, frustration and breaking more historical records.
During the last days, President Biden and Marjorie Taylor Green, who rarely agree on anything, publicly stated that the continued voting chaos in the House was “embarrassing,” and it kicked off as such on Thursday.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) rose to tell the Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson that a quorum was not present.
After counting the members, the chair announced the quorum was met, and the seventh ballot was kicked off.
“I don’t need D.C. politicians telling me how broken D.C. is. The American people have told us how broken D.C. is by giving the republicans control of the House,” stated Rep. John James (R-MI) as he nominated Kevin McCarthy (D-CA) for Speaker for the seventh time.
McCarthy “has earned my trust,” said James.
Again, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was nominated from the democratic side of the aisle for the seventh time.
Then Rep. Daniel Bishop (R-NC) rose to nominate Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FLA).
“We could have voted yesterday for the first black Speaker of the House,” shouted Bishop. He criticized yesterday’s public comment that Donalds was called “a prop,” citing the racism in Washington.
“We are committed to make change to this institution,” said Bishop. “I came to this institution to fix this broken system.”
Bishop described his characterization of the last three days.
“Lord, I do a new thing. We need more Byron Donalds. I know him. He is not a prop. He is a man of convictions,” noted Bishop. “This is the people’s business. We will resolve the people’s business and when we do, we will go to the mat for the American people because we will be led by people of conviction because we will be led by people like Byron Donalds.”
As the clerk, turned to the vote, McCarthy and Jeffries held their leads, but fell short of winning.
Matt Gaetz (R-FL) voted for “Donald John Trump” although his name was not then nominated.
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) voted again, “present” as she did the day before
Nevertheless, the seventh ballot ended like all the previous six, no Speaker elected.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): 212
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): 201
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): 19
Trump: 1
Present: 1
Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) said on FOX that there is “no agreement” among the republican caucus, and accused McCarthy’s camp of leaking information. On Twiter Perry posted “A deal is not done.”
Matt Gaetz’s vote for Trump as Speaker lit up social media.
Moving into the eighth round, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fl) rose raising fears that the opportunity before the members may be squandered to “right the wrongs over the last two or four years” in the House and nominated Kevin McCarthy.
Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) then nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on the democratic aisled, and cited that for the last seven ballots, the democratic caucus has stood firm with 212 votes for Jeffries.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) nominated Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) by reminding the House members that five more million republicans voted in the 2022 election for republican candidates to change not just the House rules, but elect new leadership.
“We are on a sub-optimal path that needs to change,” said Biggs. Byron “has the chomps to be Speaker” he added.
Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Josh Brecheen (R-OK) broke rank with the Freedom Caucus on the eighth ballot, and voted for Rep. Kevin Hern. (R-OK), who is head of the Republican Study Committee, the largest group of republican conservatives although Rep. Kevin Hern voted for McCarthy as he had during the previous ballots.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) voted for Donald Trump once again.
The eight ballot results:
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): 212
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): 201
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): 17
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): 2
Trump: 1
Present: 1
Moving into the ninth ballot, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), a Freedom Caucus member, rose to nominate Kevin McCarthy and called upon his Freedom Caucus colleagues to end the objection to McCarthy’s nomination.
Nehls reminded his Freedom Caucus colleagues that the motion to vacate the Chair by one member, which former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had cancelled, had been reinstated.
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) then rose to nominate Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for the eighth ballot.
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) nominated Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL).
“We must make changes in this broken system. The current leadership will support the current earmarks, which is the golden trail to corruption,” Rosendale forcefully said.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) then took to the mic, ‘We need someone to build momentum. Kevin McCarthy does not have the votes. It is not happening. America does not want more talk. The want action…Congress Is broken…should not be beholding to the lobbyists…”
The ninth roll was called for the 432 casted votes.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): 212
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): 200
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): 17
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): 3
Other: 0
Present: 1
McCarthy’s tally dropped from the last count to 200 votes.
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) had voted for McCarthy on past ballots but did not vote during the eighth ballot because he was traveling to a medical appointment, and is expected to absent on Friday.
Reps. Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert and Josh Brecheen voted for Rep. Kevin Hern, whose mother died this past week. Her funeral will be held on Saturday if the vote is extended over the weekend.
Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX)’s wife has just given birth and he is expected to return to Texas.
Again, no Speaker was elected.
The tenth ballot then began.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), who was born in Mexico, rose to nominate Kevin McCarthy.
“Kevin McCarthy is the man to lead us,” said Ciscomani.
In 2003, Ciscomani was an intern on Capitol Hill. Now, he has returned as a Rep.-elect soon to be sworn in once a Speaker is elected.
Once again, democratic New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries was nominated by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA).
Rep. Anna Luna (R-FL) then nominated Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) calling him “a listener.”
And, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) re-nominated Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK).
Then, the tenth roll call began.
The tenth ballot results of a total of 432 votes cast:
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): 212
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): 200
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL): 13
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): 7
Other: 0
Present: 1
Again, no one was elected as Speaker.
During the tenth ballot tally, it was reported that Patrick McHenry (R-NC) was behind closed doors working out a potential deal with Freedom Caucus members, who are against McCarthy.
By that time, Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Scott Perry (R-PA) of the Freedom Caucus had been telling reporters that a deal was being put in writing, but, again, the devil was in the details.
Turning to the 11th Speaker’s vote, the Clerk called upon nominating House members.
“I rise in the spirit of 1923 “to nominate Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House” said Rep. French Hill (R-AK).
“Over the last two years, we have lost our way,” exclaimed Hill. “It is madness” as he criticized the over-spending and reminded the members that McCarthy had brought a balanced budget amendment to the House.
“We have nothing to lose by making big changes,” remarked Hill. “It will bring sanity back to this process.”
Then Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) rose to nominate once again democrat Jeffries who has been the lead vote-getter on the last days calling him the “leader for this time.”
With that, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) stood up contrasting President Trump’s administration to President Biden’s and nominated Donald Trump for Speaker.
“This town has been far too long corrupt,” shouted Gaetz, claiming that business will be as usual with “currency for favors” if leadership does not change.
Between the time, Gaetz had voted for Trump, but before Gaetz formally nominated him for Speaker during the 11th ballot, Trump had already taken to social media.
“I am very disappointed that Kevin McCarthy, even with my endorsement, could not get the job done today,” wrote Trump. “Many are saying that Matt Gaetz was on to something when he voted for yours truly. I have no interest in being Speaker, but because I love America and its Patriots, I will accept the nomination for Speaker ONLY IF there is a fair election that happens tomorrow! Then Americans will celebrate January 6 as a Great Day in our history! I’m sorry Kevin, you couldn’t Close the Deal!,” he closed.
Following Gaetz, Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) stood to nominate Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) as Speaker reminding everyone how great America is, but how the republic is tinkering on the brink economically with a $32 trillion debt.
Good said constituencies are asking for “transformational change.”
And, the reading clerk took the roll.
The 11th ballot results:
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): 212
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): 200
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FLA): 12
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK): 7
Donald Trump (R-FL): 1
Present: 1
With the 11th ballot tally announced, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) rose to move to adjourn the House until noon on Friday.
After an electronic vote, the day came to a close with no Speaker elected, and hence, no members sworn into office for the 118th Congress for the third day because no member can be until a Speaker is elected.
Negotiations will continue through the night among members.
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Kevin McCarthy is a swamp creature.