House speaker vote: McCarthy thanks Trump for final votes as fight nearly breaks out on floor
This blog has now closed.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.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.
Exclusive: AOC says Republican chaos shows how reasonable progressives like the Squad are
Shock scenes as Republican held back in confrontation with Matt Gaetz during Speaker vote
How Matt Gaetz and AOC cleared the air on their positions over Kevin McCarthy voteTrump phone-ins, near-fights and 15 votes: Key moments from a chaotic House Speaker election
AOC fires back after Cammack accuses Democrats of getting drunk in House chamber
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez knocked down accusations from Republican Representative Kat Cammack of Florida after she claimed Democrats were drinking during their vote to nominate a speaker of the House of Representatives.
Eric Garcia reports.
AOC fires back after GOP accuses Democrats of getting drunk during speaker debacle
Rep Cammack’s speech fails to rally Republicans around Kevin McCarthy
No members, no rules...
As Republicans continue to squabble over who will be the next speaker, there are essentially no members in the U.S. House of Representatives — only members-elect.
Without a speaker, none of the them can be sworn in, and the 118th Congress can’t convene or vote on any rules. Parliamentary procedure has been jettisoned in favor of controlled chaos. Members of both parties are unsure whether they can call votes or make motions on the floor because there is no speaker to rule on their requests. Committees can’t be formed and legislation can’t be passed.
US House has no members, no rules as speaker race drags on
As Republicans squabble over who will be the next speaker, there are essentially no members in the U.S. House of Representatives — only members-elect
Speaker fight exposes post-Trump GOP leadership vacuum
The episode also poses more profound questions about the party’s identity and future. It’s a fresh reminder of Trump’s waning influence inside the GOP — even among the most vocal supporters of his Make America Great Again political movement — as he again seeks the party’s presidential nomination, exposing a leadership vacuum with no obvious alternative to unite the party and guide it through practical governing responsibilities and political challenges.
'A disaster': Speaker fight exposes GOP leadership vacuum
The stalemate over the Republican House speaker vote is more than just an embarrassment for Kevin McCarthy, who is now the first person in a century to muddle through multiple ballots
Photo of AOC laughing as Matt Gaetz makes impassioned speech goes viral
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been captured laughing while sitting behind her Republican opponent Matt Gaetz as he delivered an impassioned speech amid his campaign to resist Kevin McCarthy’s attempts to be elected House speaker.
The photo was taken during the chaotic vote on Wednesday, when the House of Representatives adjourned without having decided on a new speaker. Legislators had appeared temporarily to not know what the final vote count was on the resolution.
Photo of AOC laughing as Matt Gaetz makes impassioned speech goes viral
Gaetz is among the Republicans opposing Kevin McCarthy’s bid for speaker
ICYMI: Viral clip showing George Santos all alone in House chamber
George Santos was isolated by an obvious cloud of political toxicity on Tuesday as the embattled congressman-elect appeared on the House floor to vote in the election for speaker of the House.
Videos and photos showed the New York Republican sitting alone, in sharp contrast to his fellow lawmakers who were conversing with other members as well as some who even brought their children to the House floor to witness the spectacle of the speaker’s election.
He’s been much more social since then.
Clip goes viral showing George Santos all alone in House chamber on first day
Rep-elect faces storm of controversy over lies about religion, background
Watch: Jeanine Pirro says GOP holdouts making party look ridiculous
McCarthy defiant despite 11th humiliating defeat: ‘It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish’
Kevin McCarthy rang in a defiant tone after a seventh consecutive defeat in his bid to become House speaker as he said it was fine if some processes “take a little longer” and don’t “meet your deadline”.
The House on Thursday adjourned for the third time in as many days with a stalemate.
Despite this, Mr McCarthy told reporters after the adjournment that “if this takes a little longer and it doesn’t meet your deadline that’s okay. Because it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” He added: “If we finish well, we’ll be very successful.”
Maroosha Muzaffar reports:
Kevin McCarthy defiant despite 11th humiliating defeat
California Republican’s string of defeats lead to longest speaker contest in more than a century
From laughing to cringing: The most memorable images of three days of House speaker votes
With C-SPAN providing an unfiltered live feed of all the action on the floor of the House of Representatives as the votes continue to name a speaker, audiences have been treated to an interesting insight into how Congress functions – or dysfunctions, as the case may be.
Usually, congressional rules dictate what cameras can and cannot show, but with no representatives sworn in there are no such rules.
There have been some memorable still images captured by photographers present in the chamber as lawmakers have laughed, cringed, appeared frustrated and huddled in tense negotiation between ballots as Kevin McCarthy suffered defeat after defeat.
Here are some of the best images to emerge so far:
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
Congresswoman evokes ‘day 3 vibes’ and carries her dog to House floor as Speaker crisis drags on
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”.
Read more:
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
Voices: Why the insurgents trying to torpedo Kevin McCarthy’s speaker bid are not serious
Voices: Why the insurgents trying to torpedo Kevin McCarthy’s speaker bid are not serious
Eric Garcia writes that Matt Gaetz nominating Donald Trump for House speaker proves this is nothing to do with serious policy divisions.
Why the insurgents trying to torpedo Kevin McCarthy’s speaker bid are not serious
Matt Gaetz nominating Donald Trump for House speaker proves the GOP logjam is not about serious policy disagreements
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments