For the first time in nearly 100 years, the U.S. House of Representatives failed to select a speaker in the first round, according to CBS News. After all, Republican Kevin McCarthy did not get enough votes.
California Rep. McCarthy has failed to assuage the anger of a group of supporters of former President Donald Trump, reflecting divisions within the opposition Republican Party, which won a majority in the House of Representatives after the midterm elections held in November.
A majority of 218 votes is required to elect the “Speaker of the House of Representatives”, the third most important figure on the American political scene after the president and his vice president.
Kevin McCarthy won just 203 votes in the first round, while 19 Trump supporters decided to block his election.
Representatives will continue to vote until a speaker is elected.
The Politico newspaper on Monday reported that a “group” of Republicans was trying to prevent McCarthy from taking the speakership. In recent days, it has been noted that McCarthy’s office has been in intense negotiations within the Republican Party, trying to gather the necessary number of supporters, but has not been able to resolve differences with the “strongest critics” who promised to vote against him.
Source: agencies