In 1923, the Speaker of the House election took 9 rounds and in 1856, Congress ... trends now
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It didn't go according to plan, at least for GOP leader Kevin McCarthy who became the first majority nominee for speaker in 100 years to fail to win an initial vote for the gavel after losing 19 GOP hardliners.
McCarthy walked into the chambers just after 12 noon, posed for photos and received a standing ovation after being nominated by the third-ranking Republican, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York who said he 'has what it takes' to lead House Republicans.
But a challenge was quickly raised by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., a conservative former leader of the Freedom Caucus, who was nominated by a fellow conservative as speaker. At least count, at least 19 fellow Republicans had abandoned McCarthy.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (D-CA) walks to the House Chambers of the U.S. Capitol Building on December 23, 2022 in Washington, DC.
McCarthy continues to face diehard opposition from a small number of conservative lawmakers who calls
