House Conservatives Led by Gaetz and Donalds Embarrass McCarthy

 As of Jan. 4, 2023, a House speaker has not been elected. 20 House Republicans, including Florida Reps. Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, and Anna Paulina Luna have voted against Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's candidacy for Speaker of the House.

Over the course of two days, there have been six rounds of voting conducted to elect a new House Speaker. The last several votes saw House Republicans pivot from backing Rep. Jim Jordan, and have now nominated Rep. Donalds for the position.

The sixth vote concluded Wednesday afternoon with the 7th vote expected to take place on Thursday.

According to The New York Times, the 20 Republican lawmakers “who voted against  Minority Leader McCarthy:

1. Rep. Andy Biggs
2. Rep. Dan Bishop
3. Rep. Lauren Boebert
4. Rep. Josh Brecheen
5. Rep. Michael Cloud
6. Rep. Andrew Clyde
7. Rep. Eli Crane
8. Rep. Matt Gaetz
9. Rep. Bob Good
10. Rep. Paul Gosar
11. Rep. Andy Harris
12. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna
13. Rep. Mary Miller
14. Rep. Ralph Norman
15. Rep. Andy Ogles
16. Rep. Scott Perry
17. Rep. Matt Rosendale
18. Rep. Chip Roy
19. Rep. Keith Self
20. Rep. Byron Donalds

Rep. Gaetz, who has led the charge against McCarthy, has recently questioned by the embattled Republican leader was allowed to move into the Office of the Speaker without having been elected to the job.

“As of this morning, the 117^th Congress adjourned sine die, and a Speaker from the 118^th Congress has not been elected,” Gaetz wrote, reminding that “after three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to this office.”

Gaetz further questioned, “what is the basis in law, House rule, or precedent to allow someone who has placed second in three successive speaker elections to occupy the Speaker of the House Office?”

For many Americans, this is very confusing and frustrating that the House speaker hasn’t been elected. Grace Saldana, Editor-in-Chief for RSBNetwork, tweeted, “If Republicans can’t even unite to vote in a Speaker of the House, how will they be able to unite and take action on the issues that matter to their base?”