Watch Live: House speaker election drags on after McCarthy loses again on 6th ballot - CBS News

Shortly aft the House reconvened, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma made a question for the House to adjourn until 12 p.m. Thursday. Democrats were urged to ballot "no" connected the question to adjourn, according to a announcement from Democratic Whip Katherine Clark.

Amid shouts of "aye" and "no" from members connected the floor, Rep. Pete Aguilar asked for a rotation telephone vote.

The question passed 216 to 214. All Democrats and four Republicans opposed the petition to adjourn until Thursday.

"This House stands adjourned until noon tomorrow," the House clerk said.

After gathering down closed doors with immoderate of his detractors for astir 3 hours, McCarthy told reporters helium does not judge different ballot Wednesday, which would beryllium the seventh round,  volition effect successful a antithetic outcome.

"I deliberation it's astir apt champion that radical enactment done immoderate more," helium said. "I don't deliberation a ballot contiguous does immoderate difference, but I deliberation a ballot successful the aboriginal will."

The California Republican said advancement was made successful negotiations with the Republicans opposing his bid for speaker, but does not judge different circular of voting Wednesday nighttime is "productive."

Stepping retired of the gathering with McCarthy and his allies, Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, 2 staunch opponents of McCarthy, told reporters that their absorption to his bid has lone been reinforced.

"Look, he's a hopeless feline whose ballot stock is dropping with each consequent vote, and I'm acceptable to ballot each night, each week, each period and ne'er for that person," Gaetz said.

Boebert, meanwhile, predicted "increased opposition" to McCarthy and said she volition firmly stay opposed to his nomination.

"You cannot negociate successful a deficiency of trust. There is nary trust," she said.

The House is acceptable to reconvene astatine 8 p.m. aft adjourning conscionable earlier 5 p.m. 

—Melissa Quinn, Ellis Kim

Florida Republican Congressman Byron Donalds won 20 votes successful the contention for House talker arsenic Kevin McCarthy failed again to unafraid a majority. Donalds joined CBS News legislature analogous Nikole Killion to sermon the divisions wrong the enactment and erstwhile helium thinks the quality implicit enactment volition beryllium resolved.

Republican negotiators are gathering portion the House is adjourned. Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina confirmed to CBS News that McCarthy is attending the meeting.

When Rep. Matt Gaetz, a cardinal person of the rebel Republicans, was asked if determination was a campaigner helium liked and could get to 218, helium said, helium knows "who can't get 218: Kevin McCarthy." 

Some of the Republican members who attended: 

• Lauren Boebert
• Byron Donalds
• Matt Gaetz
• Jim Jordan
• Tim Burchett
• Chip Roy
• Brian Fitzpatrick
• Thomas Massie
• Andrew Clyde
• Scott Perry 
• Tom Emmer
• Bruce Westerman
• Chris Smith
• Patrick McHenry

— Ellis Kim and Caroline Linton

After the House clerk again said aft the sixth circular of voting that a "speaker has not been elected," GOP Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma motioned for the House to adjourn to 8 p.m.

The question was adopted by dependable vote, and the House present stands adjourned until 8 p.m.

 A sixth circular of voting ended without the predetermination of a speaker. Jeffries earned 212 votes, to McCarthy's 201 and Donalds' 20. Rep. Victoria Spartz voted "present." 

It's unclear whether the House volition bash different circular of votes next, oregon person capable votes to adjourn truthful they tin negociate their adjacent moves. 

Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado inactive voted for McCarthy successful this round, adjacent though helium said helium mightiness not. 

In the sixth circular of voting, McCarthy is again poised to neglect to get capable votes to go the adjacent speaker, with nary evident alteration successful his detractors' opposition.

By the clip the House reached the members whose names statesman with "L," Donalds had already secured 12 votes, with much expected to come. McCarthy tin lone suffer 4 GOP votes, if each members are successful the enclosure and casting a yes oregon nary vote.

McCarthy's nonaccomplishment to triumph a bulk of votes ensures that a seventh circular of voting volition instrumentality place. 

After the House clerk work aloud the ballot tally from the 5th ballot and declared that a talker has not yet been elected, Republican Kat Cammack of Florida roseate to nominate McCarthy.

Cammack, who served arsenic lawman main of unit to her predecessor, erstwhile Rep. Ted Yoho, began her remarks noting "It's Groundhog Day. Again," and addressed her comments to the American radical alternatively than those successful the House chamber.

"We volition get this right. No substance however messy this process is, we volition look better," she said.

Cammack said lawmakers' constituents "didn't nonstop america to beryllium perpetual critics. They sent america to get things done," and said Republicans indispensable perpetrate to "unity."

"I recognize the deficiency of spot among immoderate of our colleagues, but what I americium asking, what I americium asking is that we each spot the American radical who sent our colleagues here," she said. "The radical person overwhelmingly voted for Kevin McCarthy."

As portion of her entreaty for unity, Cammack said Democrats "want america to combat each other. That overmuch has been made wide by the popcorn and blankets and intoxicant that is coming implicit there." Her proposition that Democrats person been consuming intoxicant during the proceeding earned jeers and boos. 

Following Cammack's remarks, Aguilar nominated Jeffries for the sixth time, arguing helium has  a coagulated way grounds of legislative achievements. 

Pennsylvania Republican Scott Perry, caput of the House Freedom Caucus, nominated Donalds for the 3rd clip and said members could marque past by electing him arsenic the archetypal Black Republican speaker.

"Washington is broken," helium said. "Byron Donalds volition animate us."

Republican Rep.-elect Ken Buck of Colorado said connected CNN that the 5th ballot was his last guaranteed ballot for McCarthy, and his ballot is present open. McCarthy, Buck said, needs to earnestly see stepping aside. 

Buck said Rep.-elect Steve Scalise needs to see stepping up instead. 

In the adjacent 2 oregon 3 ballot rounds, Buck said helium believes Republicans volition beryllium "frayed" capable that they'll person to see different candidates. 

Asked if helium would ballot for McCarthy a sixth time, Buck said, "Stay tuned."

On the 5th ballot to beryllium elected speaker, nary campaigner again secured a elemental bulk of the votes.

Mirroring the results of the anterior circular of voting, McCarthy garnered 201 votes to Jeffries' 212, portion Donalds again won 20 votes. Spartz again voted "present."

The aforesaid 20 Republican members who backed Donalds successful the 4th circular of voting supported him successful the fifth. 

In a announcement to Democrats, whip Katherine Clark's bureau advised that "another ballot is expected aft the authoritative ballot from the 5th Manual Roll Call ballot is tallied," and reminded members to stay connected the House floor.

 The House Democratic whip, Rep.-elect Katherine Clark, advised Democratic members that they should beryllium prepared to enactment successful Washington, D.C., until a talker is elected. 

"Members are advised that they should beryllium prepared to enactment successful Washington, D.C. until a talker is elected," her advisory said. "Additional accusation astir the ballot docket volition beryllium announced arsenic soon arsenic it becomes available."

Clarked advised members to enactment connected the level until they're told to bash otherwise, and told members to fto her bureau cognize instantly if they expect to beryllium absent astatine all. 

If Democrats permission the area, McCarthy could triumph by default. He doesn't request a bulk of the House down him — helium lone needs a bulk of members voting. 

As the House continues its 5th ballot for talker successful 2 days, McCarthy has already mislaid capable Republican votes to neglect connected the 5th ballot. By the clip the House reached the missive "G," Donalds had already received 10 votes, capable to vessel McCarthy's chances.

It's unclear what Republicans volition bash pursuing yet different seemingly failed effort to elite a speaker. GOP Rep.-elect Victoria Spartz expressed that she wants the league to convene to find a way forward, alternatively than proceed voting with the aforesaid outcome. 

Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio nominated McCarthy pursuing the House clerk declaring that "a talker has not been elected" aft counting the 4th ballots. 

"I plead with all, each of my Republican colleagues, fto cooler, much rational heads prevail," Davidson said successful his nominating speech. "Let america unite arsenic Republicans to elite the adjacent talker of the House."

The Ohio Republican encouraged his GOP colleagues to travel unneurotic and wield the bulk they gained aft the November midterm elections and noted that astir of his chap members of the blimpish House Freedom Caucus enactment McCarthy.

"A bulk is lone a bulk if we really enactment together," helium said.

Davidson besides highlighted the proposals enactment distant by immoderate of McCarthy's 20 detractors that person been agreed to by the Republican person and said helium "led the Congress to follow substantive reforms that volition marque our bulk much effective."

"We arsenic Republicans are a large and divers conference. The existent question goes backmost to strategy," Davidson said. "Can we judge incremental progress? Can we enactment for a victory, 1 archetypal down astatine a time, oregon tin we lone judge the high-risk instrumentality plays?"

He warned that Republicans "risk a worse result if we bash not unite down a man" who helped GOP lawmakers execute reforms to the House rules.

"Can we instrumentality a triumph each present and past and springiness anticipation to the forgotten men and women successful America who nary longer judge this place, this people's house, cares astir them?" Davidson said.

Davidson ended his code to raucous applause from McCarthy's backers.

Aguliar past again nominated Jeffries for speaker, portion GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado nominated Donalds again.

In a nominating speech, Boebert questioned whether the concessions agreed to by McCarthy would clasp and suggested it should person been Republican enactment who sought to betterment the House rules to springiness much dependable to rank-and-file members.

"Why didn't the expected person of the Republican Party contiguous these rules? Why were we fought truthful hard connected these rules?" she said. "The obstruction that inactive stands successful the mode of these rules is the operation that prevents america from rolling over."

Boebert said the occupation of GOP lawmakers is "not to coronate the biggest fundraiser oregon rubber stamp the presumption quo."

The Colorado Republican said she and the others who person opposed McCarthy received calls from Trump pressuring them to enactment the GOP House leader.

"The president needs to archer Kevin McCarthy that 'Sir, you bash not person the votes, and it's clip to withdraw,'" Boebert concluded.

Rep-elect Victoria Spartz of Indiana, the 1 Republican who switched her ballot from McCarthy to "present," told CBS News her ballot wasn't anti-McCarthy. But rather, she thinks Republicans request to instrumentality to their league gathering country and fig retired a way forward. 

Spartz said she informed McCarthy up of clip of her program to ballot "present." 

McCarthy and different candidates failed to person a bulk of votes yet again successful the archetypal circular of votes Wednesday but the 4th circular of votes since the predetermination began Tuesday. 

McCarthy mislaid 20 Republicans, and 1 further Republican, Rep.-elect Victoria Spartz, voted present. She had antecedently voted for McCarthy. 

Jeffries received 212 votes, to McCarthy's 201, meaning that for the 2nd time successful a row, the number party's nominee received much votes than the bulk party's nominee. 

The House is apt headed to a 5th circular of voting, though it's unclear what volition alteration betwixt present and then, oregon what McCarthy's strategy is. 

Here are the Republicans who voted for Donalds alternatively of McCarthy: 

• Andy Biggs of Arizona
• Dan Bishop of North Carolina
• Lauren Boebert of Colorado
• Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma
• Michael Cloud of Texas
• Andrew Clyde of Georgia
• Elijah Crane of Arizona
• Byron Donalds of Florida
• Matt Gaetz of Florida
• Bob Good of Virginia
• Paul Gosar of Arizona
• Andy Harris of Maryland
• Anna Paulina Luna of Florida
• Mary Miller of Illinois
• Ralph Norman of South Carolina
• Andrew Ogles of Tennessee
• Scott Perry of Pennsylvania
• Matthew Rosendale of Montana
• Chip Roy of Texas
• Keith Self of Texas

GOP Rep. Byron Donalds, the GOP alternate for McCarthy opponents, has obtained a capable fig of votes for McCarthy to suffer the speakership ballot for the 4th clip successful 24 hours. Donalds had already reached 7 votes by the clip the House, which is voting alphabetically, reached "D."

So far, McCarthy has failed to flip a azygous of his detractors. 

Shortly aft the House convened Wednesday astatine noon, Rep. Mike Gallagher of Indiana nominated McCarthy for House speaker, paving the mode for a 4th circular of voting to begin. After the information was announced, applause broke retired successful the House enclosure from McCarthy's allies.

In remarks, Gallagher said helium recognized his colleagues are getting "frustrated" but added "there's nary spot I'd alternatively be." 

"My friends connected the Democratic broadside misunderstand what's happening here. Sure, it looks messy, but ideology is messy, ideology is messy by design," helium said. "That's a feature, not a bug of our system."

Gallagher said helium is "proud" to beryllium a subordinate of a enactment that invites statement and acknowledged the frustrations from a faction of the Republica conference. 

But helium said McCarthy has gone "above and beyond" successful listening to their concerns, putting distant a program for the House and helping Republicans to unafraid the majority.

"Nobody has done much to laic retired a program for however we reconstruct the basal functioning of this instauration than Kevin McCarthy. Nobody. Nobody has done that," Gallagher said.

After Gallagher concluded his speech, Rep. Pete Aguilar, president of the Democratic caucus, again nominated Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the post. The enclosure again broke retired successful applause.

"We are focused connected serving the American people," Aguilar said successful remarks. "In bid to bash that, we person to unite down a speaker, and Democrats are agreed down a speaker."

Texas Rep. Chip Roy past roseate to nominate Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida for speaker. Donalds switched his ballot connected the 3rd ballot Tuesday from McCarthy to Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.

Roy called Donalds a "solid conservative" and highlighted his grounds arsenic a businessman and work successful the Florida authorities legislature and successful Congress.

"Here we are, and for the archetypal clip successful past determination person been 2 Black Americans placed into the information for talker of the House," helium said, adding "There is an important crushed for nominating Byron and that is this state needs a change. This state needs enactment that does not bespeak this city, this municipality that is severely broken."

The House past began its 4th circular of voting for speaker.

Before the ballot began, House unit counted the members contiguous successful the House enclosure to found a quorum. A quorum telephone showed 351 members successful attendance.

Passing by reporters, McCarthy said they wouldn't adjourn without a vote. 

"We're not going to adjourn," helium said. "We'll person different ballot today".

Former Vice President Mike Pence urged each Republicans to rally astir McCarthy, arsenic the fractured enactment enters a 2nd time of the 118th Congress. 

"Urging Every Republican successful @HouseGOP to enactment my friend, Kevin McCarthy arsenic the adjacent Speaker of the House," Pence tweeted. "@GOPLeader's Leadership & Vision led to The New Republican Majority & I cognize Speaker McCarthy volition pb the House to statesman a Great American Comeback!"

Before the House convenes astatine noon, House Democratic leaders warned of the consequences that travel from the ongoing — and truthful acold unsuccessful — efforts by Republicans to elite a caller House speaker, noting it's impeding the quality of House leaders to represent committees and prosecute unit and lawmakers to assistance their constituents.

"Now it gets serious, due to the fact that we efficaciously don't person a House of Representatives. This can't support connected going. You can't person 1 subdivision of the national authorities simply not function," Rep. Ted Lieu of California, vice seat of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters successful a property conference. "We request Republicans to govern if they can. If they cannot, past they should fto Democrats govern."

California Rep. Pete Aguilar, the caucus chair, said members "don't person statuses" until the House organizes, since the archetypal bid of concern for the caller Congress is the predetermination of a House speaker. Because 1 has not yet been chosen, nary of the incoming members person taken their oaths of bureau and truthful stay representatives-elect.

"This is going to commencement to interaction the operations of the House moving forward," helium said, aboriginal adding, "There could beryllium a constituent wherever it does mean thing to the constituents that we serve, whether we tin prosecute successful casework connected their behalf and assistance individuals navigate the national bureaucracy backmost home."

Aguilar criticized his Republican colleagues, saying they are characterized by "crisis, confusion, disarray."

"This is simply a situation of the Congress and it's a situation astatine the hands of the Republican dysfunction," helium said.

Aguilar said helium intends to erstwhile again nominate Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for talker erstwhile the House convenes and reiterated his colleagues volition unify down Jeffries arsenic they person done connected the anterior 3 votes. He besides said Democratic enactment has not had conversations astir voting "present," which would little the ballot threshold to marque it easier for McCarthy to unafraid the enactment needed to triumph the gavel.

Before departing the White House for Kentucky, wherever President Biden volition beryllium joined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Mr. Biden said Republicans' inability to elite a House talker is "not a bully look" and "not a bully thing" for the country.

"That's not my problem," helium told reporters astatine the White House. "I conscionable deliberation it's a small embarrassing it's taking truthful long."

Mr. Biden added: "The remainder of the satellite is looking. They're looking astatine tin we get our enactment together?"

Asked whether helium is acrophobic astir the quality to govern if the impasse among House GOP members and members-elect continues, the president replied, "Not maine — Congress to govern."

Mr. Biden lamented that the combat implicit who volition go House talker is coming successful the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, battle connected the U.S. Capitol.

"This is the United States of America," helium said. "I anticipation they get their enactment together."

The House tin bash thing earlier the predetermination of a speaker. No subordinate of the House tin beryllium sworn into office, and they can't enactment connected immoderate legislation. 

Committees present nether Republican power can't motorboat the investigations they've planned into the concern dealings of Hunter Biden, the origins of COVID-19, the handling of the Southern borderline and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"There is nary House of Representatives arsenic we cognize it. There is nary subordinate of the House presently sworn in," CBS News elder White House and governmental analogous Ed O'Keefe noted connected CBS News' streaming transmission Tuesday pursuing the 3 failed votes. 

It besides means determination is nary House talker successful enactment for the presidency. After the vice president, it is the talker who is adjacent successful line. Without a speaker, the president pro tempore of the Senate is next. In the 118th Congress, that would beryllium Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington. 

Republican Rep. James Comer, who is acceptable to seat the House Oversight Committee, told "CBS Mornings" connected Wednesday that helium doesn't deliberation GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy is the "perfect" House speaker, but he's "the close idiosyncratic to pb our league astatine the close time."

The House volition apt effort for a 4th clip Wednesday to elite a talker pursuing a time of chaos successful the Republican Party. After 3 rounds of voting Tuesday, McCarthy failed to get the bulk of votes needed to win. Nothing other tin hap successful the House until a talker is elected. 

"We hold we request a speaker," Comer said.. "We request a talker today, truthful I deliberation it's important successful governmental negotiations that some sides effort to fig retired an retired here."

"Both sides person dug successful the sand, and I deliberation we've got to travel up with immoderate benignant of statement truthful we tin elite our talker and determination guardant with our Republican docket that voters overwhelmingly gave america during the midterms this past November," helium said. 

Read much here and ticker the afloat interrogation successful the subordinate below. 

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, 1 of Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy's astir vocal GOP critics, asked the designer of the Capitol why it is that McCarthy is allowed to inhabit the speaker's office, since helium has not won the office.

In a letter dated Jan. 3, Gaetz wrote to Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton, "What is the ground successful law, House rule, oregon precedent to let idiosyncratic who has placed 2nd successful 3 successive talker elections to inhabit the Speaker of the House Office? How agelong volition helium stay determination earlier helium is considered a squatter?" He asked Blanton for a speedy response, since "it seems Mr. McCarthy tin nary longer beryllium considered Speaker-Designate pursuing today's balloting."

Gaetz has voted against McCarthy successful each 3 rounds of voting truthful far.

Former President Donald Trump urged each Republicans to rally down McCarthy for talker successful a post to his societal media platform, Truth Social, connected Wednesday morning.

"Some truly bully conversations took spot past night, and it's present clip for each of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA,THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE "HOUSE" TWICE!" the erstwhile president wrote.

Trump told the House GOP holdouts not to squander their triumph successful taking power of the House, informing them against turning "a large triumph into a elephantine & embarrassing defeat."

"Kevin McCarthy volition bash a bully job, and possibly adjacent a GREAT JOB - JUST WATCH!" helium wrote successful his appeal.

Trump endorsed McCarthy for talker connected the eve of Election Day successful November, though helium remained mum done Tuesday arsenic the speaker's contention devolved into chaos for Republicans. 

It's unclear whether Trump's latest endorsement volition sway the 20 GOP holdouts to propulsion their enactment down McCarthy connected the 4th ballot.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy mislaid 3 elections for Speaker of the House connected Tuesday, leaving the enclosure astatine a standstill. McCarthy said precocious Tuesday helium is consenting to proceed negotiations with the 20 holdout blimpish members. Scott MacFarlane reports from Capitol Hill.  

Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters Tuesday nighttime that there's nary condition that volition thrust him retired of the contention for speaker, though it sounded arsenic though he's consenting to marque further concessions to the Freedom Caucus, if necessary.  

That contradicts his connection to the Republican league Tuesday greeting that helium was done negotiating. 

"You privation to get to 218, you're gonna person to support talking," helium said this evening, aft helium fell abbreviated successful his bid to beryllium talker successful 3 successive rounds of voting. McCarthy added, "I consciousness really precise good," though helium admitted that "today — is it the time I wanted to have? No."

"I deliberation we'll find our mode to get there," helium said. "And this is simply a steadfast debate. It mightiness not hap connected the time we privation it, but it's gonna happen." 

He besides said helium spoke with erstwhile President Donald Trump Tuesday evening, and said Trump's presumption is that "he thinks it's amended that each the Republicans get unneurotic and lick this. It doesn't look bully for Republicans, but we privation to beryllium capable to lick it wherever we're stronger successful the agelong run." 

McCarthy seemed to suggest that helium mightiness beryllium capable to prevail with a little bulk threshold, telling reporters that helium needs a scope betwixt 213 and 218 votes to triumph since Democrats person 212 votes. A fig beneath 218 would lone represent an implicit bulk if immoderate members are absent oregon ballot "present," lowering the full fig of lawmakers casting a ballot for oregon against him. If immoderate of the 19 holdouts were to ballot "present," helium could win.

He told reporters, "Democrats person 212 votes; you get 213 votes, and the others don't accidental different name. That's however you tin win."

The 20 Republicans opposing McCarthy person antithetic reasons for voting against him, making it much challenging for McCarthy to triumph implicit capable of them to unafraid the speaker's gavel. He tin lone spend to suffer 4 Republican votes. 

Some impeach him of perpetuating the "Washington presumption quo," and others uncertainty he'll travel done connected promises to betterment spending.

In Tuesday's last circular of voting, helium mislaid 1 much ballot than successful the anterior 2 rounds erstwhile Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, of Florida, switched his ballot from McCarthy to Rep. Jim Jordan. Donalds had pledged to ballot for McCarthy connected the archetypal 2 ballots but not aft that.  

Some of the astir vocal GOP opponents of McCarthy see Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona. Biggs, who ran against McCarthy for the apical spot successful GOP leadership, was initially nominated arsenic the 3rd campaigner successful the archetypal circular of voting, but Jordan was nominated to beryllium the 3rd campaigner successful the adjacent 2 rounds. 

The Republicans opposing McCarthy are mostly further to the close than the remainder of their conference.