Who are the alternatives to be House speaker if McCarthy withdraws? A look at possible names
If McCarthy doesn't become House speaker, could Democrat Hakeem Jeffries be elected -- or Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan or others? House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy is still struggling to corral the necessary votes to become speaker as a minority of his conference puts up a series of protest nominees against him, insisting he grant their demands for more influence, reshaping how the House is run and what Republicans prioritize. The chamber cannot conduct any other other business until a speaker is chosen. Lawmakers resumed voting for a seventh time after returning from adjournment Thursday at noon. Across six rounds of voting over two days, neither McCarthy nor the alternatives -- Andy Biggs, Jim Jordan, Byron Donalds -- have so far unified the party in the House, where 218 votes are needed to win if every lawmaker votes. McCarthy has gotten no more than 203. The others no more than 20. McCarthy has vowed to fight on until he wins the support needed. His critics have called for him to st...