Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, lost a fifth consecutive vote for speaker on Wednesday as the deadlocked House of Representatives slogged through its second day without a leader or sworn members, amid a rebellion by far-right members of the G.O.P. that led to a historic struggle on the House floor.

 

Updated

Jan. 4, 2023, 2:53 p.m. ET14 minutes ago

14 minutes ago

Catie Edmondson

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/01/04/us/house-speaker-vote

 

The deadlock over the House speaker job stretches into a second day. Here is the latest.

 

Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, lost a fifth consecutive vote for speaker on Wednesday as the deadlocked House of Representatives slogged through its second day without a leader or sworn members, amid a rebellion by far-right members of the G.O.P. that led to a historic struggle on the House floor.

 

After three defeats on Tuesday, Mr. McCarthy and his allies were grasping to win over defectors, but his efforts were falling flat, even after former President Donald J. Trump made a direct appeal for Republican lawmakers to vote for Mr. McCarthy, saying he “will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB.”

 

Here’s what to know:

 

The thin Republican majority in the chamber means almost all of the party’s members must agree on a speaker. If all members of the House are voting and participating, the winner needs 218 votes. Republicans control 222 seats. On Tuesday, Mr. McCarthy drew at most 203 votes. On Wednesday, his total slipped to 201.

 

The nation’s legislative process is at a standstill: Members cannot be sworn in, adopt rules or vote on bills until a speaker is chosen.

 

Far-right Republicans have lined up by turns behind candidates including, on Tuesday, Jim Jordan, who voted for Mr. McCarthy; and, on Wednesday, Byron Donalds, the party’s first Black nominee for speaker. Mr. Donalds, of Florida, drew 20 votes. The lawmakers do not expect their candidates to win but wish to register their displeasure with Mr. McCarthy.

 

The Democrats are united behind their leader, Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who earned the most votes, 212, on all five ballots but will almost certainly not win because his party controls only 212 seats, short of the majority required.

 

Until Tuesday, the House had not failed to elect a speaker on the first roll call vote since 1923, when the election stretched for nine ballots. House precedent dictates that members continue to take successive votes until someone — Mr. McCarthy or a different nominee — secures the majority needed to prevail.