Multiple GOP Reps Give up the Game, Flip Votes to Kevin McCarthy For Speaker in the 12th Round

In the 12th round of voting for the House Speaker, U.S. House Rep Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) gained a large number of votes in his quest to take over the position, tallying 214 votes and garnering the largest share for the first time.

Thirteen GOP reps switched their votes from opposing nominations to McCarthy: U.S. House Rep Paul Gosar (R-AZ), U.S. House Rep Dan Bishop (R-NC), U.S. House Rep Michael Cloud (R-TX), U.S. House Rep Andrew Clyde (R-GA), U.S. House Rep Byron Donalds (R-FL), U.S. House Rep Mary Miller (R-IL), U.S. House Rep Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Ralph Norman (R-SC), U.S. House Rep Scott Perry (R-PA), U.S. House Rep Chip Roy (R-TX), U.S. House Rep Keith Self (R-TX), U.S. House Rep Andrew Ogles (R-TN) and U.S. House Rep Josh Brecheen (R-OK).

U.S. House Rep Victoria Spartz (R-IN) switched her vote from “present” back to McCarthy, who she had voted for in the first three rounds.

U.S. House Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) nominated U.S. House Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH) for Speaker and U.S. House Rep Lauren Boebert (R-CO) nominated U.S. House Rep Kevin Hern (R-OK).

Even with the defections, McCarthy didn’t have the votes in this round as the opposing votes were too much for him to overcome with three voting for Hern and four voting for Jordan.

U.S. House Rep Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was nominated by the Democrats and his total remained the same as the previous eleven rounds.

And that’s the ballgame

McCarthy has 5 No votes

We’re onto the 13th round

— Rogan O’Handley (@DC_Draino) January 6, 2023

As we previously reported, Gaetz nominated former President and 2024 GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump for House Speaker in the 11th round after previously voting for him in two rounds.

Gaetz had voted for Trump in the seventh and eighth rounds, before switching to Boebert’s nominee for both rounds, Hern.

Previously, Brecheen was the first one to vote for Hern after Boebert had nominated and voted for him.

Lauren Boebert Throws New Option Out and Casts a Vote For GOP Rep Kevin Hern, Who Then Gets Second Vote From GOP Rep Josh Brecheen

‘He Can Start by Making the House of Representatives Great Again’ Matt Gaetz Nominates Donald Trump for House Speaker After Previously Voting For Him in Two Rounds