Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

US House of Representatives Fails to Elect New Speaker in 1st Round


Tue 03 Jan 2023 | 11:29 PM
Rana Atef

On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives failed in electing a new speaker in the first round.

Kevin McCarthy failed to get the necessary votes to hold the position in the first round after 19 House Republicans voted against him. 

Although McCarthy had the majority of Republican votes, some conservatives voted for Andy Biggs and other nominees.

Republican Jim Jordan of Ohio supported McCarthy after the first round, saying: "The differences we may have ... pale in comparison to us and the left, which now unfortunately controls the other party," Jordan said. 

"So, we had better come together ... That's what the people want us to do, and I think Kevin McCarthy is the right guy to lead us, I really do, or else I wouldn't be up here giving this speech," he added. 

Democrat Hakim Jeffries of New York had more votes in the first round, with 212, while McCarthy had 203. 

Ten Republicans voted for Biggs, and nine voted for other candidates.