The House Republican leadership standoff will stretch into at least a third day, on Thursday, after six failed votes to decide on a speaker over Tuesday and Wednesday.
Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has so far been blocked from the speakership by 20 members of his party repeatedly voting for other candidates — now across six rounds of voting over two days.
The vote to adjourn marked the climax of a second day of historically failed speaker votes — the first time in a century it has taken more than one round to pick a speaker.
The House can conduct no other business — and members can’t be sworn in — until a speaker is chosen.
President Joe Biden said House Republicans’ inability to unify behind a speaker candidate, which has prevented the chamber from beginning its legislative business, was “embarrassing” and “not a good look” for the country.
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday before traveling to Kentucky with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Biden said of Republicans, “I hope they get their act together.” Biden said that “the rest of the world is looking” at the chaotic scenes on the House floor, but that his focus was on “getting things done.”
The president also revealed on Wednesday that he intends to visit the border during his upcoming trip to Mexico. Biden has often been criticized for not visiting the border during his tenure as president as record-setting numbers of migrants have attempted to enter the country.
Until now, administration officials dodged any questions about a possible border visit during the trip, which kicks off on January 9th.
Source-ABC
