Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) flipped 15 votes in his favor during the 13th speaker vote on Friday, falling short just three votes of the 217-vote threshold needed in the longest speaker election in over 150 years.
Though he didn’t make it to 217, the vote marks a notable flip as McCarthy won just 200 votes on the 11th vote on Thursday. The 13th vote is also the first time no Republican stood up to nominate a candidate besides McCarthy, indicating that McCarthy may be winning some of his critics over.
A group of hardline conservatives has refused to vote for McCarthy over the past four days forcing him to negotiate with them over legislation priorities and concessions to get their vote. The group says the reason they’re holding out is because they’re tired of the “status quo.”
The holdouts still include Rep.-elects Andy Biggs (R-Arizona). Lauren Boebert(R-Colorado), Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), Bob Good (R-Virginia), Matt Rosendale (R-Montana) and Eli Crane(R-Arizona).
McCarthy is expected to focus on flipping Rosendale, who is reportedly thinking about how voting for McCarthy will affect a possible 2024 Senate run, and Crane, who is concerned about how his red district’s politics will be affected if McCarthy wins.
Pundits note that former President Donald Trump‘s backing of McCarthy for speaker could be used in his favor to win over Rosendale and Crane.
All 212 Democrats have unanimously voted for Hakeem Jefferies (D-New York) will be their leader on each vote.
