Kevin McCarthy Will Lose—Even If He Wins

Following some fighting, cursing, and speechifying over the course of three separate votes, Kevin McCarthy failed to hit the 218 Republican votes needed to win the top House post, prompting the House to adjourn for any more ballots until Wednesday afternoon. McCarthy, who was formally nominated on the floor Tuesday by the third-ranking House Republican, Elise Stefanik, could afford to lose only four GOP votes with all members participating. But the caucus of right-wing holdouts expanded instead of contracting Tuesday. The biggest question remaining: Can the top Republican still manage to back into the speakership he’s coveted for the better… Read Full Article