GOP leader says ‘you’ll be calling me the Comeback Kid’ as he tries to convince just TWO more rebels to flip after 15 switched their votes

  • McCarthy picked up 14 of the 21 votes that were previously cast against him 
  • The GOP leader scored 214 votes – he’ll have at least 216 tonight when two missing Republicans return to Washington 
  • With the two missing members back, he needs 218 to win  

GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters he now has the votes to become Speaker as the House moved to adjourn until 10 p.m.

‘You’ll be calling me the Comeback Kid,’ the California Republican boasted after losing an unprecedented 13 elections for Speaker.

Asked how he knew he’d have the votes by the 14th ballot, he snarked: ‘Because I counted.’

The House GOP delegation is waiting on two members – Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas and Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado – to return from the birth of a child and a medical appointment respectively.

Buck and Hunt are expected to return to D.C. just ahead of the vote.