Democrats react to GOP House chaos after McCarthy loses several ballots for Speaker

After an eventful day on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, House Democrats are reacting publicly to the fractured GOP’s failure to rally together to elect a House Speaker for the new Congress, with many expressing enjoyment at watching Republicans battle it out.

Members of the incoming House of Representatives spent the first day of GOP House control on the House floor participating in ballots for Speaker of the House. Three votes were taken on Tuesday with Rep. Kevin McCarthy losing all three after the so-called Freedom Caucus rallied against him and stripped about 20 votes from the Republican side.

Voting resumed on Wednesday afternoon, showing no signs of moving in Kevin McCarthy’s favor as the Freedom Caucus continues to nominate and cast their votes for other candidates, including Florida Rep. Byron Donalds (R). 

House Democrats have reacted publicly, with some taking to social media to express their amusement at House Republicans’ inability to come to a consensus, posting photos of themselves bringing popcorn to the House floor to watch the drama unfold.

New York Democrat, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D), who has won all the ballots thus far for House Speaker, Tweeted on Wednesday ahead of the second day of House Speaker votes, “House Dems will continue to put people over politics. Republicans are putting politics over the people. And so America lacks a fully formed Congress for the first time in 100 years.”

The fourth and fifth speaker ballots on Wednesday showed McCarthy losing GOP support instead of gaining it, with his total vote tally decreasing with every vote.

Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert, a member of the Freedom Caucus, spoke to the House ahead of the fifth ballot, calling on McCarthy to step aside as candidate for Speaker.

New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell (D) Tweeted a photo of a dumpster fire captioned simply, “On their first day in power the House republicans…”

After Tuesday’s showdown in the House, President Biden weighed in on the day’s events, calling them “embarrassing” and “not a good look.”

After two voice votes on Wednesday, there are no signs of a resolution regarding who will lead the House during this Congress.