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Scalise Smoke Signals

As McCarthy struggles to get to 218, Republican leaders are considering once unthinkable concessions—and beginning to talk openly about realistic alternatives.

U.S. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise.
U.S. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Tara Palmeri
January 5, 2023

The G.O.P.’s “working group” late this afternoon may have been the moment of truth for McCarthy in his quest to be elected Speaker. His allies seemed to be optimistic that they would somehow be able to reach some sort of compromise after six bruising rounds of voting. But from Matt Gaetz’s latest vow to “never [vote] for that person,” it sounds like McCarthy’s last-ditch plea may not have landed.