Key McCarthy ally claims deal with holdouts imminent

"Kevin doesn't yet have the votes, but there are signs of hope that we are coming to a deal," Rep. Warren Davidson said.

Published: January 5, 2023 6:07pm

Updated: January 5, 2023 10:17pm

GOP Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson says a deal is imminent to secure California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy's ascension as Speaker of the House. 

"Kevin doesn't yet have the votes, but there are signs of hope that we are coming to a deal," Davidson said on Thursday's edition of the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show.

McCarthy lost the tenth round of voting for House speaker, securing 200 votes, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., secured 212,  Rep. Byron Donalds received 13, and Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern took seven.

"I think a lot of average Republicans are looking at this saying, 'shouldn't you have already had this handled before January 3?' And yeah, we should have. But on the other side of that, it is an opportunity to have a window into how the sausage gets made," he said.

There have been a lot of concessions made during this time, where the objectors to McCarthy want someone like Rep. Byron Donalds on leadership committees and get new voices in. 

"There's a lot of hope for Byron in the future that he's got in the party," Davidson explained. "I don't know if it really comes down to any one person. There was also a lot of hope that Jim Jordan would be a higher ranking person, but Jim has made it clear: He wants to lead the judiciary committee."

Georgia GOP Rep. Austin Scott confirmed a deal was in the process. 

"Kevin McCarthy has earned the right to be the speaker," Scott said on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. "He's carried us through the majority. I feel very good about his ability to lead the conference."

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