Republicans extend historic split for 2nd day, and US House remains without president

Without advancing in the negotiations to be elected president of the US House of Representatives, Republican deputy Kevin McCarthy lost the fourth vote in the early afternoon of this Wednesday (4), opening up the cracks in the legend and extending the chaos in the Legislature for the second consecutive day.

With the inauguration of the new Congress after the November legislative elections, the Republican Party returned to have a majority in the House after four years and should have elected a new President of the House still on Tuesday.

But McCarthy, leader of the party among the deputies, suffered strong internal opposition and did not reach the necessary 218 votes on Tuesday (3), in a performance considered humiliating and which led the Chamber to an impasse that had not occurred since 1923. There were three votes and three crushing defeats, which began with 19 dissents and ended with 20 votes against him.

This Wednesday, the fourth vote ended once again with 20 votes against and there was one abstention.

It’s a high number given the narrow majority of the legend. Republicans have 222 seats in the new Chamber, and the new president needs 218 votes, that is, he can only have a maximum of four oppositions, so the politician would need to convince at least 16 deputies if he wants to be elected.

The lack of consensus on the choice blocks the agenda in the Chamber, and the deputies have to vote as many times as necessary until the new president is chosen. The last time there was no election for president on the first ballot was in 1923, when the selection of a Republican took nine rounds.

History shows, however, that McCarthy may still have a chance. That year, a century ago, Republican Frederick H. Gillett stood on his behalf and was elected after losing eight ballots.

McCarthy was opposed by the ultra-conservative wing of the party. Of the 20 people who voted against him, 19 are linked to the Freedom Caucus, an ultra-right Republican group. In addition, 12 repeat the speech that the 2020 election, when Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden, was rigged. The majority also had their election supported by Trump.

This Wednesday morning, the former president expressed support for McCarthy. “Some really good conversations took place last night, and now it’s time for all of our GREAT Republican Representatives to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, CATCH THE VICTORY AND WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI [ex-presidente da Câmara] FLYING BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKE CALIFORNIA “, he wrote on social network. ′′ REPUBLICANS, DON ‘ T TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT AND SHAMEFUL DEFEAT. IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB — JUST WATCH!”

An important Trump ally during the Republican government, McCarthy even echoed false claims that the former president won the 2020 election before the result was confirmed. With the invasion of the Capitol in 2021, when a crowd inflated by Trump tried to forcibly prevent the confirmation of Biden’s victory, McCarthy turned against Trump and claimed that he was responsible for the attack. Politically skilled, however, the leader knew how to read the scenario and got closer to the former president.

Also speaking out was Biden, who said on Wednesday that he finds “very embarrassing that it’s taking so long.” The Democrat will be the main target of Republicans in the House, who, now with a majority, promise to open investigations against the government and stop the legislative agenda of the White House.

The Republican, however, remains firm in his purpose of becoming Speaker of the House, one of the highest positions in the US chain of power, second in the presidential line of succession, behind only the Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Boxes and boxes of pizza arrived at McCarthy’s office on Tuesday night as his political group resumed talks to elect him after his humiliating performance on early ballots. He has given in to pressure from the conservative wing and made promises of more power to the group in committees and even to allow a small group of deputies to try to demote the president of the Chamber in the internal regulation of the House at any time during his term.

Despite the stalemate, there is still no clear name among Republicans who can beat McCarthy, but the lack of consensus raises speculation. The most quoted so far is Steve Scalise, congressman for Louisiana and the party’s No. 2 in the House. Unlike McCarthy, he faced no internal opposition in the House leadership election in November and is considered more conservative than the main candidate, pleasing the Freedom Caucus.

The lack of consensus within the party contrasts with the Democratic Party. In November, the election of Hakeem Jeffries as the new leader, to succeed the powerful Nancy Pelosi, went unchallenged. In the votes for mayor, as expected, all 212 deputies elected from the party voted for Jeffries — something difficult to achieve without a majority. There is also no other name today strong enough among Democrats to challenge a bid for re-election by Biden, who will be almost 82 years old in the next election.

Republicans referenced that contrast as they launched McCarthy to the presidency for a fourth time on Wednesday. “Of course, it looks like a mess. But democracy is a mess by definition,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher.