House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday failed to secure the necessary 218 votes to be the next House speaker, the first time in nearly a century that the majority’s nominee needed another vote.
Reps. McCarthy, R-Calif., Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, and Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., split most of the votes three ways. None of the nominees was able to reach the 218 vote threshold needed to secure a majority of votes, so the election will move to a second ballot.
With Republicans divided, Jeffries was on pace to lead the first round of voting, though he remained short of a majority.
With 434 votes cast, Jeffries received 212, McCarthy received 203, Biggs received 10, and Reps. Jim Jordan, Jim Banks, and Lee Zeldin each received one vote.
McCarthy won a standing ovation from most Republicans on the House floor Tuesday as he was introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who nominated him to be the next House speaker.
In the meantime, Democrats nominated Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and boasted that they were “united” in their support for the minority candidate.
