Byron Donalds Calls For the House GOP to take a Recess to Come to a Consensus After Bailing on Kevin McCarthy in the Third Round of Voting For the House Speaker

U.S. House Rep Byron Donalds (R-FL) called for the House GOP to take a recess to come to a consensus after bailing on Kevin McCarthy in the third round of voting for the House Speaker.

Donalds declared in a three-part Twitter thread, “The reality is Rep. Kevin McCarthy doesn’t have the votes. I committed my support to him publicly and for two votes on the House Floor.”

“218 is the number, and currently, no one is there. Our conference needs to recess and huddle and find someone or work out the next steps but these continuous votes aren’t working for anyone,” Donalds continued.

Donalds explained, “When the dust settles, we will have a Republican Speaker, now is the time for our conference to debate and come to a consensus.”

“This will take time, Democracy is messy at times, but we will be ready to govern on behalf of the American people. Debate is healthy,” Donalds concluded.

The reality is Rep. Kevin McCarthy doesn’t have the votes. I committed my support to him publicly and for two votes on the House Floor. 218 is the number, and currently, no one is there. Our conference needs to recess and huddle and find someone or work out the next steps…(1/3)

— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) January 3, 2023

As we previously reported, prior to the third round of voting, Donalds told CNN’s Jake Tapper of the nominee who he ultimately voted for, U.S. House Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH), “Jim would be a great speaker.”

“I’m not saying anything against him. I’m open to whoever can close the deal. That’s where we are,” Donalds explained.

Chip Roy Nominates Jim Jordan For the Third Round of House Speaker Voting As Byron Donalds Flips Vote

U.S. House Rep Andy Biggs (R-AZ) sounded off after McCarthy’s latest defeat as he said in a tweet, “Three ballots. Three losses for McCarthy.”

“He is obstructing Congress from getting its legislative work done!” Biggs insisted.

Three ballots.

Three losses for McCarthy.

He is obstructing Congress from getting its legislative work done!

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) January 3, 2023

UPDATE: A motion to adjourn until tomorrow was nearly unanimously approved by a voice vote prior to the fourth round of voting.