House Of Representatives Reconvenes At 1200ET As Speaker Saga Continues

After three failed attempts to elect a Speaker on 3 January, the House of Representatives is set to reconvene at 1200ET (1700GMT/1800CET) in order to continue the voting process.

• For the first time in exactly 100 years, the voting process was forced to go to a second (and indeed third) ballot, all of which proved insufficient to see Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) come away with the Speaker's gavel.
• First ballot: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): 212, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): 203, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ): 10, Others: 9. Second Ballot: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): 212, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): 203, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH): 19. Third Ballot: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): 212, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): 202, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH): 20.
• A small but committed group of hard-line right-wing Republican representatives have refused to back McCarthy, and with the Democratic caucus (so far) remaining united in opposition to the senior GOP figure there has been no way to break the deadlock.
• No matter the outcome later today (see our upcoming US Daily Brief, due out around 0800ET/1300GMT for more details), the major divisions evident within the House Republican caucus will come as a major boon to the White House and Democrats in Congress.
• A united GOP caucus in the House with a slender majority would be able to do significant damage to the Democrats' legislative agenda. However, a group riven with divisions will find it tougher to present its own legislative agenda and stand up effectively to the White House.