Say this for the new Republicans in Congress: They made history. Now they just need to start making an agenda, rather than stumbling onward in discord and disarray.
The GOP ditched a governing agenda in favor of culture-war demagoguery. Now it’s suffering the consequences.
For the first time in a century, members of the House of Representatives failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot.
Nineteen Republicans voted against their party’s leading candidate, Representative Kevin McCarthy, leaving him 15 votes shy of victory.
The Democratic Party’s unanimous choice for the job, Hakeem Jeffries, secured more votes than McCarthy. Two further rounds of votes went no better for the GOP.
For the first time in a century, members of the House of Representatives failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot.
Nineteen Republicans voted against their party’s leading candidate, Representative Kevin McCarthy, leaving him 15 votes shy of victory.
The Democratic Party’s unanimous choice for the job, Hakeem Jeffries, secured more votes than McCarthy. Two further rounds of votes went no better for the GOP.