(Trends Wide) — Kevin McCarthy is locked in a fight for his political future as he tries to win the votes he needs to become Speaker of the US House of Representatives in what is already the longest race in 164 years.
McCarthy suffered a series of defeats Thursday as the House moved through round after round of failed votes. The longer the fight drags on, the more dire it becomes for McCarthy, as he risks more defections and a general loss of confidence in his Republican leadership.
The House will reconvene at noon Eastern time, but it remains to be seen whether Republicans will adjourn immediately or vote for the 12th time on McCarthy’s candidacy for president. It’s also unclear whether McCarthy has a chance of garnering any new support, something his allies consider essential.
“We are going to progress today. We are going to surprise them,” McCarthy told reporters when he arrived at the Capitol this Friday morning, adding: “We are going to get it done.”
There was progress in the talks
Talks among Republicans continue after negotiations aimed at convincing McCarthy’s opponents gained steam on Thursday. Key GOP negotiators said a deal was being reached that would bring McCarthy closer to the 218 votes he needs to become House speaker.
Several members of the chamber said they were very close to an agreement that, in many ways, is an attempt to rebuild frayed alliances and restore trust eroded in a tough meeting on Tuesday morning.
North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry, a key McCarthy ally, said: “The main thing we’re debating is what the conservative spending agenda is going to be and the nature of our Republican majority. That’s really the ‘crux’ of the conversation. And those are really the contours of it.”
Lawmakers continue to vote to elect the new Speaker of the House of Representatives at the US Capitol on January 4, 2023. (Credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
McHenry said process changes and rule revisions are also part of the talks.
“The rules, the structure and the process define the results in this place, in a substantial way,” McHenry said. “So we want to make sure all of those things are in place.”
He added: “What I observed in the last 36 hours is that great efforts have been made to put emotions aside and focus on the essence of the challenges ahead.”
McHenry said they are not discussing issues such as assignments to specific committees, but setting their agenda around issues such as spending.
In a sign of progress, one of the holdouts, Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, told Trends Wide after reaching an agreement in the office of Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota on Thursday night: “These are the changes we want.”
But he also indicated that nothing was final: “This is the first round. It’s on paper, which is good.”
Norman said most of the agreement revolves around rule changes, such as a 72-hour rule to review bills, term limits and open amendments. Norman said the agreement did not address commission allocations.
Trends Wide was the first to report Wednesday night that, in a series of key concessions, McCarthy has agreed to propose a rule change that would allow only one member to call a vote to remove a sitting president, according to two sources familiar. with the matter. McCarthy had initially proposed a threshold of five members, below current caucus rules that require half the GOP to request such a vote.
He also agreed to allow more members of the Freedom Caucus to participate in the powerful House Rules Committee, which dictates how and which bills get to the floor, and to vote on a handful of bills that are priorities for holdouts, including proposed member term limits and a border security plan.
‘I will not be a weak president’
However, it remains to be seen if the new concessions and attempts to reach an agreement will be enough for McCarthy to get the votes he needs.
On the concessions he has made so far, McCarthy said Thursday night that he is not worried about giving a single member the power to call a vote to remove the speaker from the House. “I’m pretty cool with that,” the California Republican said. “I’m not scared… I won’t be a weak president.”
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy on Capitol Hill on January 4, 2023. (Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
McCarthy also denied that members will lose commission assignments and said there have been no negotiations involving giving subcommittee chairs to dissidents.
Patience is wearing thin among lawmakers, and moderates are also frustrated by the concessions, which many believe may make it more difficult for the new Republican majority to govern effectively, though they are likely still willing to accept them.
McCarthy was defiant earlier Thursday in the face of strong winds blowing against him, saying he will continue to face the opposition until he reaches an agreement with his critics.
“Everything is going to be like this until an agreement is reached,” he told Trends Wide. “It’s easier if we all come to an agreement together.”
Asked by Trends Wide if he would realize the outcome won’t change, McCarthy said: “Only after I win.”
Trends Wide’s Melanie Zanona, Lauren Fox, Ted Barrett, Kristin Wilson, Kit Maher, Kate Sullivan and Nicky Robertson contributed to this report.
