McCarthy Wins Speakership As Lawmakers Vote 'Present' On 15th Ballot

Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected House speaker on a historic post-midnight 15th ballot early Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, overcoming holdouts from his own ranks and floor tensions boiling over after a chaotic week that tested the new GOP majority’s ability to govern, Lisa Mascaro and Farnoush Amiri reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: After four days of grueling ballots and losing 14 times in four days, McCarthy flipped more than a dozen conservative holdouts to become supporters.

After four days of grueling ballots and losing 14 times in four days, McCarthy flipped more than a dozen conservative holdouts to become supporters, including the chairman of the chamber’s Freedom Caucus, leaving him just a few shy of seizing the gavel for the new Congress.

As the House resumed for the late-night session McCarthy strode to the back of the chamber to confront Matt Gaetz, sitting with Lauren Boebert and other holdouts.

Fingers were pointed, words exchanged and violence apparently just averted. At one point, Republican Mike Rogers of Alabama started to charge toward Gaetz before another Republican, Richard Hudson, physically pulled him back, AP writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Kevin Freking also reported.

Both The New York Times and Boston Globe reported that McCarthy gained a pyrrhic victory as he conceded to the demand that even a single vote can lead to his ouster from the speakership, with the same Trump fans having outsized power to kick him out by denying him a majority vote.

As GOP lawmakers moved to adjourn on the 14th vote, McCarthy rushed forward to switch his vote to remain in session as colleagues chanted “One more time!” The few Republican holdouts began voting present as well, dropping the tally he needed to finally seize the gavel.

McCarthy had declared to reporters earlier in the day that he believed “we’ll have the votes to finish this once and for all,” AP video journalists Nathan Ellgren and Mike Pesoli also reported.

The day’s stunning turn of events came after McCarthy agreed to many of the detractors’ demands -- including the reinstatement of a longstanding House rule that would allow any single member to call a vote to oust him from office.

Even if McCarthy were able to secure the votes he needs, he will emerge as a weakened speaker, having given away some powers and constantly under the threat of being booted by his detractors.

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