Recap: In dramatic 15th ballot, Republican Kevin McCarthy clinches House speaker vote; members sworn in
WASHINGTON – Rep. Kevin McCarthy clinched the election to become the 55th person to serve as speaker of the House after a marathon 15 rounds of voting since Tuesday and a series of concessions that moved power from his new position to a cadre of hard-right lawmakers.
His election came two years after the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol – a day when McCarthy, his top deputies and 19 of the 20 holdouts he negotiated with to win all voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
On that day two years ago, McCarthy reportedly called former President Donald Trump, imploring him to call off his supporters who were ransacking the Capitol. Today – and all week – McCarthy was begging for votes from some of Trump’s biggest supporters. That includes Rep. Matt Gaetz, who nominated and voted for Trump as House speaker.
It has been a grueling week of negotiations. This is the first time the process of electing a speaker took more than one ballot in more than 100 years.
Latest developments:
He did it: House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy survived one of the longest and most chaotic speaker elections since the Civil War after winning over conservative naysayers within his own party.
House GOP agenda: After two years of Democratic control in both chambers, allowing for an 18-month congressional investigation into the Capitol attack, the GOP has vowed to fight back on narratives around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, COVID-19 and Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden.
House honoring January 6 anniversary: Before the House reconvened Friday, Democrats and Republicans remembered the Jan. 6 anniversary in press conferences to honor those impacted by the violent attack two years ago.
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Members sworn into office
McCarthy, in his new role as speaker, administered the oath to all members-elect early Saturday morning.
He officially swore in the members of the 118th Congress and kicked off the start of legislative business in the lower chamber after a marathon speaker vote since Tuesday.
- Rachel Looker
McCarthy takes the gavel: ‘That was easy, huh?’
Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries handed over the speaker’s gavel to McCarthy after officially welcoming members to the 118th Congress and emphasizing the unanimity of the Democratic Congress.
“That was easy, huh?” McCarthy said as he took the podium following chants of "U-S-A" from his caucus. “I never thought we’d get up here.”
McCarthy touched on spending, inflation, the national debt, jobs and immigration in his first speech as speaker.
“My father always told me, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish and now we need to finish strong for the American people,” he said.
“It’s night time here in Washington, but in some ways it’s also like a new beginning, a fresh start,” he added.
-- Rachel Looker
What is inflation?: Understanding why prices rise, what causes it and who it hurts most.
Jeffries hands gavel to McCarthy
Before House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries passed the gavel to newly elected Speaker Kevin McCarthy, he excoriated Republicans for a weeklong fight to elect their majority leader.
He said the change from a Democratic-held House to a Republican-led House means a shift from “a year of accomplishment to a year of ambiguity.”
Jeffries called McCarthy’s predecessor, Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a “defender of democracy” and a “no-nonsense negotiator” who will go down as the “best speaker of all time.”
His introduction to McCarthy sounded at times like a campaign speech, and the longer it went on the more Republicans called on him to wrap it up, eventually booing.
Jeffries said of Democrats in the new Congress: “We will not compromise our values.”
Some Republicans in the chamber retorted: “Neither will we!”
--Candy Woodall
Money and politics: These House lawmakers received campaign money from Kevin McCarthy, then voted against him
Biden congratulates McCarthy and challenges him to work together
President Joe Biden quickly issued a statement congratulating newly elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy – and just as quickly issued a challenge.
"The American people expect their leaders to govern in a way that puts their needs above all else, and that is what we need to do now," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
Biden promoted his economic record and said he is prepared to work with Republicans "when I can." He added: "And voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well."
McCarthy and the Republicans made Biden the issue during last year's campaign to win control of the House. The new speaker has repeatedly said Biden is leading the nation in the wrong direction.
– David Jackson
The week that was: Without rules, House speaker debate opens chamber to cameras, video chronicling chaos
House speaker ballot 15: McCarthy wins 216 votes
A bruised Kevin McCarthy finally got over the top in the wee hours of Saturday, recording 216 votes and becoming speaker of the House after days of rancor, reversals and deal-making with opponents.
The win came on a post-midnight 15th ballot that only took place after a group of Republicans defeated a motion to adjourn and convinced enough colleagues to change their votes.
It turned out that six Republicans who had opposed McCarthy during 14 previous ballots voted "present" on this one, lowering the magic number McCarthy needed to claim a majority.
In addition to McCarthy's total of 216, the House clerk officially reported that Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries again won 212 votes from party colleagues.
The six Republicans who voted "present" were Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, Andy Biggs, Eli Crane, Bob Good and Matt Rosendale. All had been involved in this week's effort to block McCarthy from ascending to the speakership.
– David Jackson and Rachel Looker
Who is the next speaker?: Kevin McCarthy was once rejected for a House internship. Now he could become the next speaker
House speaker vote 15: McCarthy appears to have the votes
On a record 15th ballot, Kevin McCarthy tentatively racked up the votes to become speaker of the House on Friday, picking up sufficient votes from Republicans who signed onto an agreement over rules, committee assignments, and other perks.
The new McCarthy supporters had voted for other people during the three previous days but went with the Republican leader he made concessions that essentially give more power to the conservative critics who opposed him.
The tally from ballot 15 must still be confirmed and made official by the House clerk.
– David Jackson
More votes to go: McCarthy House speaker drama signals more fights no matter who holds gavel, lawmakers say
Gaetz votes present on 15th ballot
Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, in many ways the face of the anti-McCarthy movement, voted present which gives the GOP leader a needed edge.
By the time Gaetz had voted four Republican holdouts were voting present as well.
—Phillip M. Bailey
Phillips nominates Jeffries in 15th vote
Rep. Dean Phillips nominated House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for speaker in the 15th round of voting this week, with the latest round of voting stretching into early Saturday morning.
“I rise to say, ‘Wow,’” Phillips quipped in a nod to the late night.
Democrats haven’t missed an opportunity to highlight their unity all week, pointing out that Jeffries has received the unanimous 212 votes of his full caucus 13 of the 14 previous votes. Rep. David Trone missed the 12th vote for shoulder surgery Friday morning but had returned in time for the 13th vote Friday afternoon.
“We the people still find ourselves without a constituted government,” Phillips said.
--Candy Woodall
Round 15: McCarthy backer gives a short nomination speech
Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas got right to the point as he nominated Kevin McCarthy on a 15th ballot.
He said the new Congress needs less talk and more action and urged his colleagues to finally put McCarthy over the top.
– David Jackson
Republican chant ‘one more time’
Republicans began chanting “one more time” on the House floor Friday night after switching votes against adjournment to remain in the chamber for a 15th ballot.
At one point cheers erupted from the caucus and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz received hugs and high fives from his colleagues.
-- Rachel Looker
Adjournment fails; on to ballot 15
After a dramatic 14th ballot — which almost got physical on the House floor at one point — failed to hand Kevin McCarthy the speaker's gavel, GOP leadership made a motion to adjourn until Monday.
But that maneuver was blocked by bipartisan group of lawmakers in a late night vote Friday.
— Phillip M. Bailey
House speaker 14th vote: McCarthy polls 216 votes – needed 217
It's official: McCarthy came up a single vote shy of becoming speaker of the House, according to the official tally of a notably tense 14th ballot.
McCarthy recorded 216 votes, but six Republicans would not give him that one last vote.
As he has throughout the week, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries had 212 votes from colleagues.
Another six Republicans voted for Jim Jordan and Andy Biggs, or voted "present" – none gave McCarthy the single vote he needed to become speaker.
– David Jackson
McCarthy standoff: A visual guide to a House speaker deadlock not seen for a century
House floor gets heated as McCarthy appears in gridlock
In the vote that could have given the speaker’s gavel to McCarthy, Republican supporters of former President Donald Trump supporters have prevented the California representative from winning the ballot.
Aides of McCarthy and Rep. Matt Gaetz, who voted present in the latest round, held animated discussions on the floor.
The tension of the situation resulted in what appeared to be an altercation on the floor involving Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers, who charged at the group and walked out of the chamber.
The chaos happens on the two year anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol where the two holdouts-- Gaetz and Boebert-- refuse to vote for McCarthy are strong Trump supporters.
- Rachel Looker
What's to come: McCarthy House speaker drama signals more fights no matter who holds gavel, lawmakers say
McCarthy in a better position to win
About halfway through the historic 14th vote for speaker, the House Republican Leader was in his best position of the week.
One of his biggest detractors, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, voted present, giving him one fewer vote against him compared to previous rounds.
Another detractor, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, missed his vote. He could come back at the end of voting to cast a ballot, but if he doesn’t vote it will lower the total of voting members McCarthy needs to clinch the speakership.
-- Candy Woodall
Jeffries nominated a 14th time
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries was nominated for a 14th time, and once again the nomination came from House Democratic Chair Pete Aguilar.
Democrats have touted their unity all week, pointing out that Jeffries has received the unanimous 212 votes of his full caucus 12 of the 13 previous votes. Rep. David Trone missed the 12th vote for shoulder surgery Friday morning but had returned in time for the 13th vote Friday afternoon.
On Friday night, Aguilar used much of his speech to thank everyone for whom the Capitol is a workplace and called out Republicans for two years ago objecting to the 2020 presidential election and peaceful transfer of power.
-- Candy Woodall
The Democratic leader: Who is Hakeem Jeffries in Congress? What to know about the Brooklyn Rep. set to replace Pelosi
Rep. McHenry nominates McCarthy in 14th ballot
North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry nominated McCarthy in the 14th ballot.
McHenry, who said he served with Kevin in his entirety of tenure in the House, said McCarthy’s leadership style has been lacking in the House for too long and called the California representative “unflinchingly optimistic” and relentless.
“Over these last few days, Kevin McCarthy has allowed this process to work among House Republicans and has empowered members to come together to find consensus on behalf of conservative policy and a greater involvement of all voices throughout the conference,” he said.
“The man does not quit,” McHenry added.
-- Rachel Looker
Who is the GOP leader?: Kevin McCarthy was once rejected for a House internship. Now he could become the next speaker
They're off: House begins night session
The House kicked off a night session Friday with apparent confidence that Kevin McCarthy will finally be elected speaker.
Even the House chaplain expressed optimism that "at last" they are on "the threshold of a new Congress."
– David Jackson
Who is House Clerk Cheryl Johnson?
According to her official bio, Johnson is the 36th person to serve as clerk and was first sworn in by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2019. She is the first Black woman to preside over the House chamber.
A New Orleans native, Johnson has worked for the House for nearly two decades, serving as chief investigative counsel and spokesperson for the Committee on Education and the Workforce. She was also counsel for the committee with oversight over the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution, where she worked for 10 years liaising with congressional committees with jurisdiction over its funding.
A journalism and mass communication graduate of the University of Iowa, Johnson got her law degree from Howard University and graduated from the senior management program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
-- Associated Press
Rep. Gaetz: ‘We’ll see how it goes’
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who previously nominated former President Donald Trump for speaker, told reporters outside the House floor that he is excited about the changes that have been made in negotiations.
“We’re still negotiating on spending, on the rules, and we'll see how it goes tonight,” he said.
-Rachel Looker
Gaetz and more: Who are the Republicans balking at Kevin McCarthy as a House speaker?
McCarthy: ‘We’ll get it done tonight’
McCarthy told reporters after the 13th ballot that he will have the votes needed tonight to win the speakership.
“We’ll get it done tonight,” he said, later adding, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”
McCarthy said the breaking points in the negotiations were getting his dissenters together and finding the ability to work together.
“I think at the end if the day we’re going to be more effective, more efficient,” he said.
He added because the vote for speaker took this long, “now we’ve learned how to govern.”
-- Rachel Looker
Day 2 of 4 (so far): McCarthy keeps losing, Biden mocks House GOP: 5 takeaways from Day 2 of the new Congress
Vote to adjourn underway
After a thirteenth round of voting once again failed to produce a new speaker of the House, GOP Rep. Steve Scalise moved to adjourn until 10 p.m. tonight.
Democrats were vocally opposed, and members are now voting on the motion. If passed, the House would gather back in less than seven hours for the fourteenth vote in four days.
-- Savannah Kuchar
The process explained: What happens after McCarthy loses multiple speaker votes? Here's how it works.
Speaker of the House vote 13: McCarthy still a few votes away
McCarthy and his allies were unable to win the speakership.
The 13th ballot again gave McCarthy 214 votes, according to the official House tally, three less than he needed to claim the House Speakers' job.
Six Republicans continued to vote for Jim Jordan, denying the majority to McCarthy.
Democrat Hakeem Jeffries again recorded 212 votes from minority party colleagues.
– David Jackson
McCarthy standoff: A visual guide to a House speaker deadlock not seen for a century
McCarthy inches closer, but appears to fall short again
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy is closer to holding the speaker’s gavel, but he still doesn’t have the votes.
McCarthy appeared to pick up 15 votes in his favor after two rounds of voting—the 13th round overall.
The Republicans he flipped are Reps. Josh Brecheen, Dan Bishop, Mike Cloud, Andy Clyde, Byron Donalds, Paul Gosar, Andy Harris, Anna Paulina Luna, Mary Miller, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Scott Perry, Chip Roy and Keith Self. And Victoria Spartz switched her vote from present to McCarthy.
He is still a few votes short because of a small group of conservatives still voting against him: Reps. Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Eli Crane, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good and Matt Rosendale.
--Candy Woodall
Day one recap: House adjourns without a new speaker as McCarthy loses three rounds of voting
Comer nominates McCarthy for round 13
Republican James Comer stepped up to nominate McCarthy for the 13th ballot, arguing Democrats have failed to hold President Joe Biden accountable.
“In a Republican majority under Speaker Kevin McCarthy the forgotten, working men and women’s voices will finally be heard and represented,” he said.
Comer, of Kentucky, will be chairman of the House Oversight Committee in the 118th Congress.
— Phillip M. Bailey
Popcorn and penalty kicks: McCarthy's push to become House speaker is sparking jokes on Twitter
New McCarthy backers hint at compromise framework
A group of GOP lawmakers, who were among the McCarthy dissenters who flipped their vote to McCarthy in the 12th ballot, told reporters that the party has agreed to a framework as ongoing conversations continue.
“It is the framework of an agreement in good faith that allows us to keep moving forward,” said Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry.
The group would not provide specifics, but said the framework involves the motion to vacate, spending and “conservative representation.”
- Rachel Looker and Sarah Elbeshbishi
The holdouts: Who are the Republicans balking at Kevin McCarthy as a House speaker?
Ballot 13: McCarthy now unopposed by any Republican nominee
This may be the big vote for House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy - critics did not nominate an alternative to run against him, the first time that has happened during this week-long standoff.
McCarthy fell just a few votes short in the most recent vote, and a new vote is underway.
– David Jackson
Intern to speaker -- maybe: Kevin McCarthy was once rejected for a House internship. Now he could become the next speaker
McCarthy gets close to being speaker - very close
The official tally on McCarthy's best ballot: 213 votes, just a few short of what he needs to become speaker of the House.
McCarthy's specific magic number is uncertain: It could be 217 or 216, depending on how many House members vote; some members are absent or may choose not to vote on a future ballot.
A 13th ballot is expected soon.
Republicans are now pressuring the seven holdouts who voted for McCarthy alternatives; Jim Jordan received four votes and Kevin Hern took three, and both of them are supporting McCarthy.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries pulled 211 votes from colleagues – the first time he has not led the balloting this week.
– David Jackson
The process explained: What happens after McCarthy loses multiple speaker votes? Here's how it works.
Who are the Republican vote McCarthy flipped?
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy had his best showing of the week on Friday, flipping 14 of his 20 detractors in his historic bid for speaker.
The Republicans he flipped are Reps. Josh Brecheen, Dan Bishop, Mike Cloud, Andy Clyde, Byron Donalds, Paul Gosar, Anna Paulina Luna, Mary Miller, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Scott Perry, Chip Roy and Keith Self. And Victoria Spartz switched her vote from present to McCarthy.
Though McCarthy flipped more than half of his opposition, he still has some hardline conservatives against him: Reps. Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Eli Crane, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good, Andy Harris and Matt Rosendale.
-- Candy Woodall
Key votes in the House: Who are the Republicans balking at Kevin McCarthy as a House speaker?
McCarthy momentum: Would-be House Speaker picks up votes, falls just a little short
Kevin McCarthy finally picked up some momentum Friday, winning at least 14 new votes on the week's 12th ballot and getting very close to the majority he needs to claim the speaker's job.
With the official results still being tallied, McCarthy tentatively won at least 214 votes, just short of the House majority he needs to become speaker. That number is a moving target of 217 or 216 because some members are not casting votes.
The new McCarthy supporters had voted for other people during the three previous days, but went with the Republican leader he made concessions to them over rules and committee assignments.
McCarthy and allies hope the new numbers will pressure remaining opponents to cave and end this impasse.
Another vote is likely to happen soon.
– David Jackson
Gaetz nominates Jordan, saying 'McCarthy doesn't have the votes'
Gaetz nominates Jordan, saying "McCarthy doesn't have the votes"
After stating that Rep. Kevin McCarthy would still not have enough backing for the role of speaker, Rep. Matt Gaetz nominated Rep. Jim Jordan in the twelfth round of voting.
"Mr. McCarthy doesn't have the votes today. He will not have the votes tomorrow. And he will not have the votes next week, next month, next year," Gaetz said.
In his address, Gaetz called the Ohio Rep. "the Lebron James of fundraising." Gaetz had previously nominated Jordan on the first day of voting, despite Jordan consistently casting his own vote for McCarthy in each round. Jordan was not nominated again Wednesday or Thursday.
-- Savannah Kuchar
Clyburn evokes Jan. 6 when nominating Jeffries
South Carolina Democrat James Clyburn was the first lawmaker to remind colleagues about the 2-year anniversary of the insurrectionist attack on the Capitol when rising to nominate colleague Hakeem Jeffries for the speakership.
“Exactly two years ago today our resolve was tested when a violent mob of insurrections attacked our Capitol, threatened the integrity of this democracy and undermined our Constitution,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers honored those impacted, injured and killed during the riot.
Clyburn, a veteran Democratic leader, also bemoaned how the chaos of the week has paralyzed Congress, saying Jeffries is “prepared to lead” and will protect democracy.
The 212 House Democrats have remained united behind Jeffries, of New York, during the entire saga.
— Phillip M. Bailey
McCarthy backer laments “dentistry of last few days”
In re-nominating McCarthy for the speaker's job, Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Cal., opened Day Four with a vivid and painful metaphor for the process.
The "dentistry of last few days” has been painful for everybody, Garcia said ahead of a 12th ballot in the speaker's race.
Republicans are still trying to drill down to a resolution.
– David Jackson
Most of McCarthy’s detractors received campaign money from him
Thirteen of the 20 people who keep voting against Kevin McCarthy for speaker received campaign money this cycle from McCarthy’s political action committee, Majority Committee PAC, according to records from the Federal Election Commission.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/06/kevin-mccarthy-campaign-money-speaker-race/10996257002/
They include Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, leader of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, and Byron Donalds of Florida, who at first voted for McCarthy but then switched his vote, and ended up becoming a candidate for speaker himself.
Seven of the 20 received no money from McCarthy’s main fundraising PACs. They include Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
— Erin Mansfield
House speakership still undecided
As the first week of the 118th Congress comes to a close, a House speaker has not yet been selected.
Though House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has consistently won a majority of Republican votes, some 20 conservatives refuse to cast votes in his favor, preferring candidates like Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., or Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. Without those votes, McCarthy is short of the votes needed to win the powerful position.
Democrats have remained united around leader Hakeem Jeffries, all 212 voting in his favor in all 10 votes.
The situation has left Congress stymied, since no member of the House of Representatives can be sworn in and no rules can be adopted until someone is selected for the role.
– Ella Lee
What to expect on Day 4
When the House gavels in at noon Friday, it will become evident if Thursday negotiations were fruitful for House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy who has lost 11 consecutive votes for speaker.
Lawmakers and political analysts in both parties discussed last night the possibility of a deal that could appease 20 rebels in his right flank and whether at least 16 of them would be swayed to McCarthy’s side.
On the fourth day of a new Congress without a speaker and sworn-in members, all eyes will be on the competing GOP factions of McCarthy and his 200 allies and his 20 detractors led by Reps. Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy, Scott Perry and Andy Biggs.
The math allows McCarthy to lose four of the 20 in his bid for speaker. But after days of a cumbersome process, any movement to his side would be seen as a huge momentum shift for the caucus leader.
It’s possible a historic 12th vote could begin at noon, or some members could push for an adjournment until Monday, leaving Congress without a House speaker or sworn-in representatives for the weekend. McCarthy is not in favor of adjourning for the weekend and has said the House shouldn't leave if its work isn't done.
“Progress” has been the magic word all week, with both McCarthy allies and opponents telling reporters an agreement was near.
Friday could prove them right or wrong.
-- Candy Woodall
House to honor Jan. 6 anniversary
Before the House reconvenes Friday, Democrats and Republicans will remember the Jan. 6 anniversary in press conferences to honor those who were killed, injured and impacted by the violent attack two years ago.
At 9:30 a.m. on the House Triangle, Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Dean Phillips of Minnesota will mark the anniversary and highlight the recently passed Electoral Count Reform Act they say “will help preserve the integrity of our elections and protect democracy.”
At 10 a.m. on the House steps, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries will hold a bipartisan remembrance with Republicans, recognizing two years since the attack.
Many House members serving today were there on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob stormed the Capitol.
-- Candy Woodall
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republican McCarthy wins House speaker on 15th ballot: recap