Lauren Boebert bucks Donald Trump’s push for a Kevin McCarthy speakership

Colorado’s Republican representatives remained at the center of U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s continued inability to secure his much-desired spot as Speaker of the House on Wednesday afternoon.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert went so far as to push back against former President Donald Trump, who has otherwise served as a close ally. Trump endorsed Boebert twice during her congressional runs, the second of which she won with a margin of just a few hundred votes.

After three rounds of voting on the House floor failed to produce a majority in McCarthy’s favor, Trump posted on social media, urging Republicans to “VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL.”

After yesterday’s debacle, Trump offers a full-throated endorsement of Kevin McCarthy pic.twitter.com/BK9LIKS2FO

— Kirk A. Bado (@kirk_bado) January 4, 2023

Boebert addressed the House on Wednesday afternoon and disagreed with Trump, while at the same time noting that he is her “favorite president.”

“The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that ‘Sir, you do not have the votes and it’s time to withdraw,’” Boebert said, drawing an audible response from her colleagues on the House floor.

Instead of supporting McCarthy for the speakership, Boebert nominated U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida.

During the fifth round of votes to select a new speaker, Boebert cast her ballot for Donalds alongside more than a dozen other Republicans. The voting had not yet finished by early Wednesday afternoon but McCarthy could not afford to lose five or more votes from his own party.

The last time the chamber needed multiple votes to select a new speaker was in 1923, which serves as an indication of how rare the occasion is and how deeply fractured the Republican party is.

U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, whose district covers Colorado’s Eastern Plains, told Politico reporter Rachael Bade earlier Wednesday that “[McCarthy] needs to cut a deal or step aside” and let other Republicans try for the spot.

McCarthy has a problem: KEN BUCK just told us that he told McCarthy he needs to cut a deal or step aside & let people like STEVE SCALISE try

And he thinks this needs to happen TODAY

If he doesn’t, Buck indicated he may no longer support for McCarthy, another possible vote lost

— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) January 4, 2023

During the fifth round of voting, Buck did not respond when his name was called, so he did not cast a vote. Colorado’s third and final Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn cast his vote for McCarthy, but by then it was too late.