After a series of late-night closed-door meetings, McCarthy said: 'Today, is that the day I wanted to have? No.' Asked if he would drop out, McCarthy said, 'It's not going to happen.'
The former president "wants to see the Republicans united to be able to accomplish the exact things we said we'd do," McCarthy said.It was a tumultuous start to the new Congress and pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House.
"We all came here to get things done," the second-ranking Republican, Rep. Steve Scalise, said in a speech urging his colleagues to drop their protest. It was the second time conservatives pushed forward a reluctant Jordan, the McCarthy rival-turned-ally, who earlier had risen to urge his colleagues - even those who backed Jordan - to vote for McCarthy.In all, a core group of 19 Republicans - and then 20 - voted for Jordan.
In the first-round tally, McCarthy won 203 votes, with 10 for Biggs and nine for other Republicans. In the second, it was 203 for McCarthy and 19 for Jordan. On the third vote, McCarthy had 202 to Jordan's 20. Democrat Jeffries had the most, 212 votes, but no nominee won a majority. After a private GOP morning meeting, a core group of conservatives led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Trump were furious, calling the meeting a "beat down" by McCarthy allies and remaining steadfast in their opposition to the GOP leader.
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