McCarthy Makes Big Gains For Speaker, But He’s Still Short

WASHINGTON (AP) – House leader Kevin McCarthy is getting closer to victory in the grueling, hard-fought struggle to become speaker of the new Congress.

On the fourth day of voting, 15 of the 20 conservative holdouts switched to him on the 12th and 13th rounds of balloting.

But he was still short of the majority he needs to win.

McCarthy told reporters as he arrived at the Capitol, “We’re going to shock you.”

The new effort is taking place against the backdrop of the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Republicans voted to adjourn, resuming at 10 p.m.

 

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