FOG BLOG U.S. LOG: KEVIN McCARTHY LOSES ON 2ND VOTE TO BECOME SPEAKER OF REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED HOUSE

McCarthy loses second vote for House speaker as voting heads to a third round California GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy failed to secure the 218 votes necessary to become speaker of the House in a second round of voting after 19 House Republicans voted against him. Voting in a third round is underway.

McCarthy maintains he will not step down and balloting will continue until he can secure the necessary supports.

"They can go through whoever they want to go through, and they'll come to the conclusion that they don't, they can't get there," McCarthy told reporters outside of the House floor.

It's customary for the minority party to nominate their leader for speaker, and Democrat Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, nominated for speaker by Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, had more votes in the first and second voting rounds, with 212, while McCarthy trailed with 203. Both rounds saw 19 Republicans vote for a candidate other than McCarthy. In the second round, all 19 opponents voted for Rep. Jim Jordan despite Jordan's endorsement of McCarthy and the Ohio Republican's stated disinterest in the role.

Jordan spoke in support of McCarthy on the House floor just before the second round began, encouraging his colleagues to vote for him.

"The differences we may have ... pale in comparison to us and the left, which now unfortunately controls the other party," Jordan said. "So, we had better come together. ... That's what the people want us to do, and I think Kevin McCarthy is the right guy to lead us, I really do, or else I wouldn't be up here giving this speech."

Speaking to reporters Tuesday — before he was nominated — Jordan said that he wouldn't want that job. "I'm for Kevin McCarthy and I've told you guys I don't know how many times, I want to chair the Judiciary Committee," he said.