US House of Representatives Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, came close to winning the speakership despite losing a 14th consecutive vote after four grinding days of intra-party voting. As a tentative deal appeared to be put together on Thursday evening and on Friday, 15 of the Republican hold-outs voted for McCarthy.
It came after the former House Majority Leader gave his support to a proposal that would undermine his own power while at the same time giving his far-right critics more power such as the ability to more easily remove a speaker.
On Friday afternoon, McCarthy appeared more upbeat as the House voted to adjourn until later that evening.
He said: “We made some very good progress.
“We’ll come back tonight.
“I believe at that time we’ll have the votes to finish this once and for all.”
The delay gives McCarthy and his allies more time to lobby the half-dozen remaining holdouts.
On the 12th ballot McCarthy won the most votes for the first time since voting began on Tuesday overtaking the Democrats choice of Speaker Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
However it was still not enough with 218 votes needed to win the speakership.
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Congressman Mike Bost, a Republican of Illinois, angrily interjected as Gaetz criticised McCarthy in a nominating speech for his alternative speaker candidate.
Shaking his finger at Gaetz, Bost fumed: “This is not going to bring anyone.”
In response the House clerk banged the gavel, while several Republicans stormed off the floor in protest.
