California Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy lost Friday’s twelfth vote to lead the U.S. House of Representatives despite winning 14 new endorsements that bring him closer to the coveted 218 endorsements to take office.
McCarthy won 213 votes thanks to these new endorsements, compared to four endorsements won by his main rival, Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, and three by Ohio Congressman Kevin Hern, according to the vote tally reported by CNN.
The 14 congressmen who have changed their minds to back the leading Republican front-runner were Dan Bishop (North Carolina), Josh Brecheen (Oklahoma), Michael Cloud (Louisiana), Andrew Clyde (Georgia), Byron Donald (Florida), Anna Paulina Luna (Florida), Mary Miller (Illinois), Ralph Norman (South Carolina), Scott Perry (Pennsylvania), Chip Roy (Texas), Victoria Spartz (Indiana), Keith Self (Texas), Andy Ogles (Tennessee) and Paul Gosar (Arizona), the latter considered one of McCarthy’s most reluctant opponents.
Thus, for the first time in four days, McCarthy has won more votes than Democrat Hakeem Jeffries – who has 211 votes – although he still lacks the votes needed to win the House presidency.
Sources close to the matter now say that the Republican congressman needs the vote of one of the seven Republicans who remain opposed to his election to win a qualified majority. The figure will vary depending on how many members vote.
Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz is now the main obstacle to McCarthy’s victory but, according to CNN sources, McCarthy’s team expects his opposition to be diluted as more congressmen add their votes to the California representative.
The four days of voting have paralyzed the activity of the House of Representatives and generated a legislative crisis without precedent in more than 150 years.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
