House speaker vote: McCarthy thanks Trump for final votes as fight nearly breaks out on floor
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Kevin McCarthy was finally elected speaker of the House of Representatives after 15 rounds of voting, clinching the gavel just after midnight on Saturday.
The longest contest for speaker of the House of Representatives in more than a century finally came to an end as six remaining Republican holdouts opted to vote “present”, giving Mr McCarthy a majority over Democrat Hakeem Jeffries.
Earlier, Republican House member Mike Rogers had to be physically restrained after lunging at Matt Gaetz amid chaotic scenes in the House.
Congressman Richard Hudson grabbed Mr Rogers by his face and physically pulled him away.
In his first speech as speaker, Mr McCarthy thanked former president Donald Trump for “helping get those final votes”.
Mr McCarthy’s bid had been delayed by a group of far-right Republicans including the likes of Lauren Boebert and Mr Gaetz.
However, on Friday he made significant progress in the 12th ballot, managing to flip a total of 14 representatives-elect in his favour after lengthy negotiations.
McCarthy foes relished the fight
While most House members were frustrated with the repeating ballots for speaker, fearing what it may portend for the next two years of Republican control, the lawmakers opposing McCarthy showed no signs of giving up for most of this week.
In fact, they appear to be enjoying themselves.
McCarthy foes relish the fight: 'A really beautiful thing'
What others see as dysfunction and chaos, many of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s opponents see as democracy at work
Wondering what it would look like if Trump were speaker?
Wonder no more.
Trump posts joke picture of himself as Speaker after Matt Gaetz nominated him
One-time president seen in photo on speaker’s chair with his tongue out
Bring your dog to work day
Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina was photographed carrying her dog Libby to the House of Representatives chamber as the vote to choose a new speaker dragged on for the third day.
When asked by a reporter whether “pups are allowed on the House floor”, she responded by saying that “there are no rules right now”.
Congresswoman votes on House floor carrying her dog as Speaker crisis drags on
Mace posts short video of her dog frantically running around her office
Democrats watched as GOP speaker debacles went from funny to dangerous
The Independent’s Eric Garcia spoke to key Democrats about how they saw this week unfolding.
Democrats say Republicans’ speaker debacle has gone from funny to dangerous
But Democrats don’t expect to bail out Republicans anytime soon
Where things stand now as the House reconvenes
Alex Woodward explains where the process of choosing a speaker stands as the House prepares to reconvene, with Kevin McCarthy having convinced 15 of his opponents to back him.
McCarthy flips 15 votes as he charts ‘progress’ in failed bid for speaker
House GOP leader says ‘we’re going to shock you’ as he inches closer to votes for speakership
House is back in session
The House is back in session, voting for a 14th time to elect a speaker of the House. There’s a greater sense of enthusiasm on the House floor, as word spreads that House Republicans may have reached a deal to elect Kevin McCarthy speaker.
With the weekend nearing, lawmakers are ready for the weekend as much as anyone.
Things are getting tense on the House floor
As Matt Gaetz votes “present”, preventing Kevin McCarthy from the last vote he would need to gain the speaker’s gavel, video showed Rep Mike Rogers of Alabama being held back as he appeared to have strong words for Mr Gatez.
McCarthy fails on 14th round of voting
Kevin McCarthy has failed to secure enough votes to be elected speaker.
“A speaker has not been elected,” the House clerk read out around 11.15pm ET.
Memorable images from a week of House speaker votes
There have been some memorable images captured by photographers present in the House chamber this week as lawmakers have laughed, cringed, appeared frustrated, and huddled in tense negotiation between ballots as Kevin McCarthy suffered defeat after defeat.
Here are a selection:
From laughing to cringing: The most memorable images of House speaker votes
Lawmakers have laughed, cringed, appeared frustrated, and huddled in tense negotiation between ballots
‘One more time'
Chants of “one more time” have broken out on the House floor, as lawmakers appear poised to hold another round of votes to nominate a speaker.
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