Kevin McCarthy failed to be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives after six rounds of voting

Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s attempt to become the new House speaker for a second day is facing resistance from a group of conservative lawmakers who refuse to back him in several rounds of voting.

McCarthy was the Republican leader in the previous Congress, which ended Tuesday, and has long wanted to become speaker.

But he has failed three times to win the 218 votes needed to be elected to head the 435-seat House.

Wednesday’s three rounds of voting also ended unsuccessfully for him.

On Wednesday, McCarthy fell 17 votes short, while conservative members of his party continued to argue that he was not ideologically strong enough to take the leadership position.

On Wednesday evening, the House adjourned until noon on Thursday.

This is the first time in the last 100 years that the House of Representatives has not elected a speaker on the first go-round.

The fourth round of voting came hours after former President Donald Trump publicly called for McCarthy to be elected speaker, calling him “my Kevin.”

“It’s time for all of our wonderful House Republicans to vote for Kevin, close the deal, take the win,” Trump said on his social media.

Trump urged the small Republican majority in the 118th Congress “not to turn a remarkable triumph into a gigantic and shameful defeat.”

“It’s time to celebrate, you deserve it. Kevin McCarthy will do well, maybe even great, you’ll see!” – Trump wrote.

But Trump’s new statement, preceded by several days of calls to McCarthy’s opponents, had no effect.

Republican Lauren Beaubert, speaking in the House on Wednesday, said Trump “needs to tell Kevin McCarthy: You don’t have the votes, it’s time to withdraw your candidacy.”

President Joe Biden also commented on the impasse.

“I think it’s somewhat embarrassing that this is taking so long and the whole world is watching,” he said. – We need to get it together.”