WASHINGTON — House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California on Thursday failed in four more attempts to be elected speaker, extending the saga to determine which Republican will succeed Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
The House remains paralyzed, delaying members’ oaths of office, GOP committee assignments, congressional probes and hearings, a rules package and passage of any legislation. Until a speaker is a elected by a majority of the chamber, the House can only vote for a speaker or move to adjourn.
The historic failure puts the 118th Congress on track to tie or pass the 26th Congress for the number of ballots needed to elect a speaker, which required 11 ballots in 1839. The all-time record is 133 ballots, set in 1855-56.
