Kevin McCarthy faces battle for political survival in House speaker vote
Republican leader goes into high-stakes as potentially first nominee in 100 years without sufficient support to win
The new Congress opens with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy grasping for his political survival, with the potential to become the first nominee for speaker in 100 years to fail to win initial support from his own colleagues in a high-stakes vote for the gavel.
Lawmakers convene on Tuesday to a new era of divided government as Democrats relinquish control of the House after midterm election losses. While the Senate remains in Democratic hands, barely, House Republicans are eager to confront President Joe Biden’s agenda after two years of a Democratic party monopoly on power in Washington.
