Status: 05.01.2023 23:21
Nine votes were taken, nine times there was not a sufficient majority: Republican McCarthy failed again in the election to the chair of the US House of Representatives – but he apparently does not want to give up.
New record in the power struggle in the US Congress: Since the 19th century, the members of the House of Representatives have not needed so many attempts to elect a new chairman.
Republican Kevin McCarthy did not get the necessary majority in the ninth ballot to secure the top job in the House of Representatives. This means that at least one more attempt is necessary. There have not been so many elections since 1859/1860. At that time, Republican William Pennington was elected chairman in the 44th ballot. The procedure took several weeks.
In 1855/56, 133 ballots were needed
The current power struggle already had a historical dimension. It is the first time in a hundred years that it takes several attempts to fill the top position. In 1923, nine ballots were needed to elect a chairman. Even then, the whole thing lasted several days.
It took the longest in 1855/56 – at that time the parliamentary chamber needed two months for the election and 133 ballots.
Despite further concessions, McCarthy has so far failed to unite his opponents in the party behind him – 20 MPs voted for other candidates, one MP abstained. With Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, McCarthy needs almost every vote in his party to become leader.