Sharice Davids frustrated at Congress standstill

The U.S. House is set to convene at noon today for a third day of voting to try and select a Speaker for the 118th Congress.

Rep. Sharice Davids, who represents Johnson County, voiced frustration Wednesday with the stalled start.

"I am in Congress to get things done for the people of Kansas, but unfortunately that work has been delayed by the new Republican majority's failure to choose a leader," Davids said in a statement Wednesday.

Driven by a small faction of dissenters, Republicans have so far been unable to coalesce behind Rep. Kevin McCarthy in order to give him the 218 votes needed to secure the spot as Speaker.

As McCarthy has fallen short on six different ballots, all 212 Democrats — including Davids — have voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries each time.

"I am not in the business of telling my colleagues how to do their jobs, but when it impacts my ability to deliver on the pressing needs of our community — like continuing our progress on lowering costs and tackling inflation, or starting to hammer out a bipartisan Farm Bill that benefits Kansas producers — I will speak up. It's time to stop the infighting and get to work," Davids said.

Davids is the lone Democrat in Kansas' Congressional delegation.

The state's other three Congressional representatives — Republicans Jake LaTurner, Ron Estes and Tracey Mann — have all voted for McCarthy all six times this week.