House adjourns with no speaker after McCarthy fails to win third ballot

Key updates

The House failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot for the first time since 1923 on Jan. 3 after Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) failed to garner 218 votes. (Video: JM Rieger/The Washington Post, Photo: Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

By John Wagner

and

Updated January 3, 2023 at 8:09 p.m. EST|Published January 3, 2023 at 6:57 a.m. EST

Today, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) fell short a third time in his bid for House speaker as 20 Republicans rejected his candidacy and backed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). A defiant McCarthy has vowed to press ahead, telling reporters, “we stay in until we win,” but his path to the speakership was unclear. The House itself remained in limbo, with no action until a speaker is elected. Amid the stalemate, the House voted to adjourn until Wednesday.

The new Senate also gaveled into session Tuesday but with far less drama. Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) are back in their respective positions. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) was elected as the new president pro tem.

Analysis: Kevin McCarthy wasn’t ‘the one’ 7 years ago. He wasn’t on Tuesday, either.

The latest: Rep. Donalds says he only committed to voting for McCarthy twice

The latest: The Republicans who voted against McCarthy for speaker

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