AOC says Democrats are 'open' to deal with McCarthy. Jeffries says Dems won't save GOP 'from their dysfunction.'

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters Tuesday night that he will not drop his bid to become House speaker, despite failing to win the gavel in three rounds of voting on Tuesday, the chaotic first day of the 218th Congress.
McCarthy needs 218 votes to win the speakership, and with the GOP holding a 222-212 majority, he can lose four Republicans. A core group of 19 hard-right Republicans, most of them aligned with former President Donald Trump, voted against him in all three rounds. McCarthy said he spoke with Trump on Tuesday and still had his backing for House speaker. Trump told NBC News he has "everybody calling me wanting my support," and "we'll see what happens."
It isn't clear how McCarthy plans to cobble together the 218 votes, but he has two basic options. He could threaten, cajole, or offer more concessions to his Freedom Caucus detractors, peeling off enough to win a majority but risking defections from more moderate Republicans and all-but-ensuring he would be a historically weak speaker. Or he could try to cut a deal with Democrats to either back him or sit out the vote, lowering his threshold for victory.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
GOP strategist Karl Rove told Fox News that McCarthy has has already made big concessions to win over GOP holdouts, and they just asked for more. If McCarthy gives in to these new, mostly impossible demands, he added, "there are going to be other demands from other groups of the House Republicans. This is an utter, unmitigated disaster."
Incoming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who won a plurality of votes in all three rounds, said Republicans have not yet reached out to his caucus. And he didn't sound overly eager to make a deal. "We are looking for a willing partner to solve problems for the American people, not save the Republicans from their dysfunction," Jeffries said. "We need a partner in governance" and haven't found one in McCarthy's Republicans.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) seemed a little more amenable. "Democrats are here, we're not going anywhere, and if they want to play ball, we're open to that," she told MSNBC Tuesday night.
"I do not believe that Kevin McCarthy has the votes, I believe that a lot of the opposition to him is very personal," and if no Republican can get 218 votes, "McCarthy's team may have to come to the Democratic Party," Ocasio-Cortez said. "And if that's the case, then what would that even look like? It's rather unprecedented. Could it result in a potential coalition government? Could we get Democratic chairs of committees as a result? We don't know."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Bookish: delightful period detective drama from Mark Gatiss
The Week Recommends 'Cosy crime' series is a 'standout pleasure' in an Agatha Christie-style formula
-
While away a balmy evening under the stars at these pop-up screenings
The Week Recommends While away a balmy summer evening under the stars at these pop-up screenings
-
Crisis? What crisis? How Lionesses made the Euros final against the odds
Amid injuries and questions about form, England's women are one step away from glory
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports