January 5, 2023 GOP deadlocked over House speaker vote

While leaving a pivotal meeting in GOP Rep. Tom Emmer’s office, Rep. Chip Roy refused to say if he’s willing to back Kevin McCarthy — as did Rep. Byron Donalds and others.

Donalds would not say if he would eventually drop out.

Rep. Scott Perry said he needed more changes.

The meeting is ongoing.

Perry also tweeted and told Fox News that there is still no deal.

“There is no agreement whatsoever and it’s disappointing that confidences are betrayed about the details of internal meetings, and it exemplifies Washington, DC, and the trust factor that is causing the impasse that is occurring right before your eyes,” Perry said.

“There’s a trust issue with the gentleman who wants to be speaker,” Perry said, adding “it is hard to restore trust in just a month or two” and “there is no agreement at this time.”

When asked about alternative candidates, Perry said, “whoever can get 218. If Kevin McCarthy will embrace these changes, I suspect he will get to 218 but if he will not, then he can’t.”

Perry said “it would be unfaithful of me” to discuss ongoing negotiations when asked about details of the dealmaking. 

“We don’t want our speaker to be working with Democrats,” Perry replied when asked about Democratic Rep.-elect Brad Sherman’s claim that moderate Republicans would have to work with Democrats to govern, continuing “as long as our speaker is true to what we believe in as Republicans across the board, we’re going to be in fine shape.” He described a Republican speaker seeking Democratic votes on issues such as government funding would be an “act of combat.”

A moderate House GOP lawmaker told CNN about the "increasing frustration" among centrists at the number of concessions unfolding as the House speaker stalemate continues.

Asked if the moderates/centrists can stomach this rules package if Kevin McCarthy gets his wish, the lawmaker said, “Depends what else is in it. I think as it is now, it’ll pass. But … if they get a single gavel as part of whatever deal is struck, it will all unravel.”

Rep. Byron Donalds from Florida was once again nominated for House speaker as the floor fight over the gavel continues Thursday.

Donalds voted for McCarthy on the first two ballots, but broke from the majority of his colleagues to vote for Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio on the third ballot with conservative hardliners.

Donalds is serving his second term, winning his first election in 2020 after GOP Rep. Francis Rooney vacated Florida’s 19th Congressional District seat, and his second in 2022 in a landslide victory.

During his first campaign, Donalds described himself in a political ad as a “Trump-supporting, gun-owning, liberty-loving, pro-life, politically incorrect Black man.”

In the same political ad, Donalds describes being arrested as a young man for drug possession and deciding to get his life together “through the grace of God.”

Donalds was raised in Brooklyn, New York, by a “single mom with three kids, two jobs and not much else,” he said. “Thanks to my mom and her influence, what could have been the end of my road was just the beginning.”

Both Reps. Chip Roy and Scott Perry, who nominated Donalds on the sixth ballot, referred to Donalds overcoming “adversity” and “humble beginnings” to get to the House floor, mentioning his upbringing.

The Florida State University graduate worked in the banking, finance and insurance industries before being elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016, according to his office.

Donalds, 44, lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife and three sons.

When GOP Rep. Dan Bishop rose to nominate Rep. Byron Donalds ahead of the seventh round, he called out Democratic Rep. Cori Bush, though he did not name her explicitly, for a tweet she sent yesterday saying that Donalds is a “prop.”

“I’ve spent a good bit of time with Mr. Donalds, especially lately — he ain’t no prop,” Bishop said.

Bush tweeted Wednesday: “FWIW, @ByronDonalds is not a historic candidate for Speaker. He is a prop. Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy. His name being in the mix is not progress—it’s pathetic.” 

Donalds responded: “FWIW, nobody asked @CoriBush her opinion on the matter. Before you judge my agenda, let's have a debate over the policies and the outcomes. Until then, don't be a crab in a barrel!”

Rep. Matt Gaetz voted for former President Donald Trump in the speakership election.

There’s no rule that the speaker is a House member. Members can vote for anyone, and they can protest by skipping the vote or voting “present.” 

Gaetz has been one of the Republican lawmakers who have not voted for party leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy.

GOP leader Kevin McCarthy appears to have suffered defeat for the House speakership for a seventh time.

McCarthy can only afford to lose four Republican votes with the party's narrow majority.

In the last few rounds of votes, a group of 20 Republicans have opposed his bid for speakership.

Why CNN says “appears to” suffer a defeat before the gavel goes down: Members-elect have the ability to change their votes before the vote is gaveled over. CNN is following along and tallying the voice votes as they happen, but it's important to be clear that anything could technically change before the vote ends. 

The House is now voting for a seventh time in an effort to elect a speaker.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, even with the support of most of his party, has failed to reach a majority needed to win the speakership.

President Joe Biden indicated he is still closely monitoring the House speaker’s race as a third day of voting kicked off Thursday.  

“I’m following it with great... how can I say it?” Biden said in response to a question from CNN’s Jeremy Diamond. 

“Attention,” Vice President Kamala Harris abruptly concluded.

The president and vice president then exited the Roosevelt Room. 

Those comments come after Biden harshly criticized House Republicans on Wednesday, saying thrice that the dramatic situation was “embarrassing” and invoking the events of Jan. 6 as he warned the world is watching.

GOP Rep. Dan Bishop rose in the chamber to nominate Rep. Byron Donalds again for speaker.

"Last night, I sat within feet of Mr. Donalds as the tweet of another member-elect appeared on the screen. That member-elect wrote and sent out to America that Byron Donalds is a prop. I've spent a good bit of time with Mr. Donalds. Especially lately. He ain't no prop," he said to applause, in reference to a tweet from Democratic Rep. Cori Bush.