House Republicans voted 188-31 on Tuesday to formally nominate Kevin McCarthy to serve as speaker in the next Congress, but the opposition shows the work he’ll have to do before a floor election in January, when he’ll likely need 218 votes.
Those 31 votes against McCarthy, taken by secret ballot, went to former House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs. The Arizona Republican launched a last-minute bid for speaker, which he said was “about changing the paradigm and the status quo.”
Five Republicans submitted write-in votes for someone other than McCarthy or Biggs, according to Virginia Rep. Bob Good, declining to say who those votes were for other than that each of the five voted for someone different. Several other lawmakers in the room, including McCarthy, said they did not hear an announcement about the five write-in votes, although members do have that option.
