Moment Kevin McCarthy loses fourth vote for House speaker
Kevin McCarthy continues to face an uphill battle to earn enough votes to become the next House speaker. Mr McCarthy must get a majority of votes from members to be elected speaker after Republicans took control of the lower chamber in the November midterms.
The GOP leader failed to win in three votes on Tuesday as the group voting against him grew from a gang of 19 to one of 20 and with no clear majority likely the House adjourned.
Rep Matt Gaetz, one of Mr McCarthy’s biggest critics, twisted the knife over the dismal day by branding him a “squatter” in the House speaker’s office – which the congressman had already begun moving into prior to the vote.
The House reconvened at midday on Wednesday and a fourth ballot for speaker got underway with Mr McCarthy challenged by Democrat Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Byron Donalds.
Mr McCarthy did not win, with 20 GOP member voting for Mr Donalds and one voting “present”.
A fifth ballot yielded exactly the same results as the fourth.
