BREAKING: McCarthy Loses First Round Vote for Speaker After GOP Defections

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Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) failed to secure the 217 votes needed to be the next Speaker of the House after 19 House Republicans defected.

This is the first time since 1923 that a speakership vote was sent to a second ballot, NBC reports.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) nominated McCarthy at 12:34 p.m. to a standing ovation from many House Republicans in the chamber for “a new direction” from the “radical Left agenda.”

BREAKING: The House of Representatives fails to select a Speaker on the first ballot.

19 Republicans voted against McCarthy:

-Biggs
-Bishop
-Boebert
-Brecheen
-Cloud
-Clyde
-Crane
-Gaetz
-Good
-Gosar
-Harris
-Paulina Luna
-Miller
-Norman
-Ogles
-Perry
-Rosendale
-Roy
-Self

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 3, 2023

Stefanik spoke out the GOP’s “Commitment to America” that was drafted ahead of the midterms. Her nomination was reportedly met with boos in the chamber.

Rep. Elise Stefanik: “A proud conservative with a tireless work ethic, Kevin McCarthy has earned the speakership of the People’s House.” pic.twitter.com/IuEDZHxpc9

— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) January 3, 2023

House Democrats nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) nominated Rep. Andy Biggs (R=AZ).

BREAKING: Rep. Paul Gosar nominates Rep. Andy Biggs for Speaker of the House.pic.twitter.com/UtODnRiu9m

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 3, 2023

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) voted for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK) voted for Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN)

I just voted for @Jim_Jordan to be Speaker of the House.

— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) January 3, 2023

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade blasted opponents of McCarthy as “idiots” and talk radio host Mark Levin accused them of being closeted RINO’s.

McCarthy met with several holdout votes and agreed to their demands in recent days.

“It’s crazy, the group made all these demands on Kevin, and he gave into every one of their demands,” a frustrated House GOP member told Newsmax.

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McCarthy agreed to the following demands:

• A Motion to Vacate, allowing the Republican caucus to more easily remove McCarthy
• Limiting bills to a single subject and the ability to zero out salaries of the executive brand during the budgeting
• Ending proxy voting that started under Pelosi during COVID

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