Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) nearly voted for Kevin McCarthy during his election for Speaker of the House in 2023, according to a new book by John Leganski, a former aide to McCarthy. The book, titled *Glory, Grief, and the Gavel: An Inside Guide to Running for Speaker of the House*, details Kaptur's contemplation of changing her vote to help McCarthy secure the position.
Kaptur, representing a predominantly Republican district, was seen discussing her potential vote with fellow Ohio representative Mike Turner during the voting process. Turner suggested that changing her vote could resolve the prolonged election. However, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) intervened, dissuading Kaptur from making the switch.
The book also recounts the challenges McCarthy faced, including demands from conservative members of the Freedom Caucus, which complicated his path to securing the necessary votes. Ultimately, after four days of voting, McCarthy was elected Speaker with 216 votes after several holdouts switched their votes to 'present'.
Kaptur's potential crossover vote would have been unprecedented in modern times, as only one member of Congress has voted for the opposing party's nominee for Speaker since 1913. The book highlights the complexities and negotiations that characterized McCarthy's election process, which ended with his removal as Speaker nine months later.