Kevin McCarthy Is Still Fighting to Be House Speaker as Deadlocked Election Drags into Third Day

"CNN's Manu Raju and Melanie Zanona reported that McCarthy proposed allowing just one member to call for a vote to oust the House speaker, bringing votes on bills like term limits and border security, and putting more Freedom Caucus members on the House Rules Committee."

"Though McCarthy's seen his support dwindle (by the sixth round, McCarthy was down to 201 votes), the Republican outwardly remained confident."

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""I just think it's really embarrassing it's taking so long," President Joe Biden said when asked about the speaker vote on Wednesday, Politico reports."

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"So far, McCarthy's support hasn't grown."

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"Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz began voting "present" in the fourth round of voting, despite voting for McCarthy in earlier rounds."

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"Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz began voting "present" in the fourth round of voting, despite voting for McCarthy in earlier rounds."

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"But in the past two days, his road to the seat has been stymied by a group of far-right hardliners, who have been casting votes for Republicans they'd like to see as speaker rather than supporting their party's pick.nnTo be elected speaker, McCarthy needs to get at least 218 votes, with room for only four Republicans to defect."

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"McCarthy -- who was selected as the Republicans' official nominee for House speaker behind closed doors in November -- was widely expected to face challenges in formally securing the position."

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"Biden's remarks echoed those of former President Donald Trump, who wrote on his social media site Truth Social that Republicans should support McCarthy, or risk turning "A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.""

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"Biden's remarks echoed those of former President Donald Trump, who wrote on his social media site Truth Social that Republicans should support McCarthy, or risk turning "A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.""

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"Biden's remarks echoed those of former President Donald Trump, who wrote on his social media site Truth Social that Republicans should support McCarthy, or risk turning "A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.""

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"CNN's Manu Raju and Melanie Zanona reported that McCarthy proposed allowing just one member to call for a vote to oust the House speaker, bringing votes on bills like term limits and border security, and putting more Freedom Caucus members on the House Rules Committee."

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"While McCarthy's path to the House speakership was never going to be easy, it's been even rockier than expected."

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"Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, who supported McCarthy's candidacy for speaker in the first two rounds of voting, began voting in line with the defectors in the third round."

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"Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, who supported McCarthy's candidacy for speaker in the first two rounds of voting, began voting in line with the defectors in the third round."

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""I still have the most votes," McCarthy said at the start of the session on Wednesday, the Associated Press reports."

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"Despite failing to secure enough support in six rounds of voting over a span of two days, Republican Kevin McCarthy says he is still determined to be speaker of the House."

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"On Wednesday afternoon, as the House wrapped its sixth round of votes, McCarthy signaled to reporters that he would continue to lobby lawmakers to vote for him, telling reporters, "We're going to break in a little then go meet.""

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"Whispers circulating Wednesday evening suggested that McCarthy was prepared to offer major concessions to the far-right Freedom Caucus members who oppose him if they agree to get behind his candidacy."

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