Matt Gaetz admits Kevin McCarthy might win the House speaker vote, but with a major caveat

Gaetz said if McCarthy becomes speaker of the House, he'll do so with the 'world's best constructive straitjacket'

Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., conceded Thursday that Rep.-elect Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., could eventually be elected speaker of the House of Representatives, but argued he would be a speaker with a "straitjacket."

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Gaetz didn't say why he was still choosing not to support McCarthy despite the latter offering concessions to critics.

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McCarthy failed to gain the necessary majority of votes to be elected speaker in six votes over two days.

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McCarthy's support slipped from 203 votes on the first ballot to 201 votes in Wednesday's final votes, with 20 members of the GOP voting for Rep.-elect Byron Donalds, R-Fla.

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Ahead of a meeting with Republicans before Thursday's vote, McCarthy was asked if he expects the vote tally to be the same today. He said, "Yeah, pretty much."

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McCarthy added, "Nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to. I wouldn't read anything into the votes today."

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