Kevin McCarthy spokesman bids in jeopardy after ‘Taliban’ conspire 20 rebels

Kevin McCarthy’s bid for Speaker of the House is in jeopardy after a group of Republican rebels nicknamed the “Taliban 20” and “Chaos Caucus” derailed the first three ballots.

The GOP is in disarray after a chaotic first day in the majority where the dissenters threw their weight behind Jim Jordan instead of the leader.

The party will meet at 9.30am where McCarthy is likely to make one further request to colleagues before voting resumes at 12pm.

Last night, a senior Republican source in the House of Representatives told DailyMail.com that McCarthy is “moving forward and taking a stand” in a sign he will keep fighting while his critics dig in and look for more ways to derail his campaign .

Matt Gaetz, who nominated Jordan, sent a letter to Capitol officials Tuesday night asking why McCarthy moved into the speaker’s office before he won the gavel.

Byron Donalds, who switched his vote to Jordan during the absurd day in the McCarthy House of Representatives, hinted Wednesday morning that he was open to returning his vote while negotiations continue.

He also slammed Rep. Don Bacon for saying colleagues privately referred to McCarthy’s opponents as the “Taliban 20.”

Byron Donalds, who switched his vote from McCarthy to Jordan during the absurd day in the House of Representatives, slammed Rep. Don Bacon for saying colleagues privately referred to McCarthy’s opponents as “Taliban 19” during the first two votes

Kevin McCarthy’s bid for Speaker of the House is in jeopardy after a group of Republican rebels nicknamed the “Taliban 20” and “Chaos Caucus” derailed the first three ballots

“We are in a process where votes are earned, not cast,” Donalds said CNN.

“This language is reprehensible, I like Don Bacon, it’s like any negotiation.

“So it’s outrageous to describe people on the other side of the negotiation as having some of the worst terrorists the world has ever seen.”

Donalds has indicated he’s ready to switch his vote back to McCarthy, saying he shouldn’t fold and he has a “way” to win.

However, he said the leader had no “strategy” and there needed to be “serious talks” about how to proceed.

Donalds added that “very little” progress was made in overnight negotiations after the House adjourned for the evening.

Gaetz, one of those 20 Republicans, expressed his own anger that McCarthy had already moved into the Speaker’s office — and shared a letter he wrote to the Capitol Architect “demanding answers.”

“How long will he stay there before he’s considered a squatter?” Gaetz asked Capitol Architect Brett Blanton.

Democrats have no plans to budge, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries – the Democrats’ pick for House Speaker – indicating the party would not line up behind a moderate “consensus” candidate.

“We are looking for a willing partner to solve problems for the American people, not to save Republicans from their dysfunction,” Jeffries told reporters at a news conference Tuesday night after the Republican majority adjourned Congress for a day. so they could try to work out their leadership problems.

He also tweeted: “Day one. House Dems are united and ready to get to work. Total chaos across the aisle.”

Previously, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had two of the Republican rebels — Reps. Paul Gosar and Gaetz – informed that Democrats had no deal with McCarthy to suspend voting to lower the threshold he would have to capture the majority.

Without an elected speaker, the House of Representatives cannot conduct business, nor can new members be sworn in.

Matt Gaetz, who nominated Jordan, sent a letter to Capitol officials Tuesday night asking why McCarthy moved into the speaker’s office before he won the gavel

Donalds speaks with colleagues on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday after the House of Representatives failed to choose a speaker in the opening round for the first time in 100 years

Some members of the House of Representatives were seen counting the votes

Republican Rep. Pete Sessions signaled he thinks Tuesday’s vote could be long — complicating a day normally reserved for ceremonies and celebrating new members of Congress with family.

“I don’t think anyone will get tired just being here. And then at some point someone has to figure out when enough is enough,” Sessions told reporters between the second and third rounds of voting.

He noted that “the whole world is watching” as the GOP battle for leadership.

McCarthy lost the first round of voting for speakership early in the afternoon, ushering in a dramatic session expected to last for hours.

Republicans in the 19th House of Representatives backed someone other than McCarthy on the first vote.

McCarthy finished second behind Hakeem Jeffries, the new leader of the House Democrats. McCarthy won 203 votes while Jeffries won the support of all 212 members of his faction.

It is the first time in a century that a speaker of the House of Representatives has not been elected in the first round.

It became apparent soon after roll-call voting began that McCarthy did not have the votes to win the gavel outright.

Audible gasps could be heard in the cavernous chamber of the House of Representatives as more than a dozen Republican legislators opposed the California legislature’s offer.