Kevin McCarthy, the leader of the Republican Party, overcame a vigorous challenge to his authority from a handful of far-right members early on Saturday morning to become the 55th speaker of the House. This victory required him to make significant compromises and portends a challenging next two years.
McCarthy told reporters after receiving the 216 votes he required after midnight, “I’m pleased it’s finished.
In a speech delivered in the chamber at one in the morning, he declared, “As Speaker of the House, my ultimate responsibility is not to my party.” “Our duty to our country is paramount.”
With McCarthy and his allies exuding confidence as they entered the 14th vote about 10 p.m. on Friday, the fierce infighting among Republicans over their future that had lasted four days came to an end.
But in a shocking turn of events that caught McCarthy off guard, that vote also failed. Days of discussions and roll-call votes later, with just one vote needed to install a speaker, at least one politician was spotted wiping away tears, and a McCarthy ally charged angrily at one of the holdouts, his resentment boiling over.
Disputes among Republicans about who should be speaker led to the longest government shutdown in recorded history. The House saw more unsuccessful voting rounds this time around, 14, than it did the last time such a deadlock occurred, in 1923, when there were nine.
In a statement, President Biden praised McCarthy for winning. Biden declared, “This is a time to lead responsibly and make sure we’re prioritizing the interests of American families.”
McCarthy was able to move forward on Friday as a consequence of his allies’ efforts to hammer out a plan that led to 14 of the 20 holdouts voting for him on the 12th ballot on Friday afternoon, drawing applause from the Republican side of the aisle.
After the 12th vote, Josh Brecheen (R-Oklahoma), who switched to McCarthy, said, “The potential of what’s been revealed to us, pending approval, is revolutionary to empower the rank and file.”
Additionally, he indicated his willingness to increase the number of House Freedom Caucus members serving on the Rules Committee, which deliberates legislation before it is brought to the floor. He also gave in to calls for floor votes to approve specific border policy legislation and establish term limits for members. Additionally, he has agreed to form a committee to investigate the FBI’s “weaponization,” as described by Republicans.
After lawmakers decided to adjourn, Gaetz told reporters, “I think the House is in a lot better place with some of the work that’s been done to democratize power out of the speakership and into the membership.” That has been our intention.
He reaffirmed his desire for McCarthy to be defeated or for House rules to be changed so that McCarthy would be placed in “a functioning straitjacket.”
