The six questions we're asking why the House can't elect a speaker and who is ... trends now
It's Groundhog Day on Capitol Hill as House Republicans failed - miserably - for a second day on Wednesday trying to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker in what's proving to be political chaos at the start of the new majority.
For a sixth time, mainstream Republicans nominated McCarthy as their speaker as the House plunged deeper into disarray.
The House gaveled in at noon, and a McCarthy ally quickly re-nominated him for the job with a rousing speech designed to peel off detractors.
'Sure, it looks messy,' said Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis. But democracy is messy, he said. 'The American people are in charge.'
But right now, no one appears to be in charge except for GOP hardliners who keep spiking the California Republican's chances to become the 118th Speaker.
DailyMail.com answers five key questions about the race for Speaker - which seems to have no end in sight.
WHY DOES THE HOUSE KEEP FAILING TO ELECT A NEW SPEAKER?
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the GOP leader of the House, perhaps in name only, needs 218 votes in the full House.
However, a consortium of 19 ultra-conservative Republicans - who call themselves the 'Never Kevin Caucus' - have been warning the California Republican that he did not have the votes.
Two days and five speaker ballots later, the House is no closer to a speaker than it was on Tuesday.
House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California has lost multiple votes for the House Speaker since Tuesday
WHAT DOES THE 'NEVER KEVIN CAUCUS' WANT?
Members of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, including Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Chip Roy of Texas and others presented McCarthy with their final offer on Monday, which included demands for high-profile committee assignments and sizable budgets to investigate the Biden administration in exchange for their votes.
McCarthy refused to oblige, saying he had gone far enough to appease the lawmakers.
Based on the past five votes, the NKs now appear to just want him out - in short, anyone BUT McCarthy.
U.S. Rep.-elect Lauren Boebert of Colorado wants former President Donald Trump to withdraw his support for McCarthy.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE LOWER CHAMBER?
Without a speaker, the House, simply put, cannot function. It needs a leader to swear in 75 new members, assign committee chairs, decide on floor proceedings and launch oversight investigations. Everything will be delayed until a speaker is elected and sworn into office.
'The spotlight needs to be put on these 19 — now 20 — that are stopping
