Kevin McCarthy is elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives after 15 ballots

the republican kevin mccarthy He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives USA in a historic 15th ballot shortly after midnight on Saturday after overcoming reluctance from his party colleagues and tensions on the floor during a chaotic week that tested the ability of the new Conservative majority to govern.

“My father always told me that the important thing is not how you start, it is how you end”, said McCarthy to the Republicans who encouraged him.

LOOK: US House of Representatives adjourns session for the second day without having elected its president

Eager to face the president, Joe Bidenand the democrats, promised subpoenas and investigations. “Now the hard work begins,” said the California legislator, who thanked former President Donald Trump for standing by him and making late calls to “help get those final votes.”

When victory was announced, Republicans roared in celebration chanting “USA! USA!”

McCarthy he took office and the Chamber was finally able to swear in the new legislators who had been waiting for a week for the official opening of the 2023-2024 session to join the institution.

After four days of grueling voting, McCarthy He got more than a dozen Republicans to change the direction of their vote to support his candidacy, including the president of the so-called bench of the Freedom of the Chamberwhich left him just a few ballots away from assuming command of the new Congress.

In the resumption of the night session, McCarthy he came close to being elected in the 14th round, but fell within one vote.

The California representative then walked to the back of the floor to confront Matt Gaetz, who was sitting with Lauren Boebert and other lawmakers who opposed his nomination. Fingers were pointed at, there were exchanges of words and, apparently, a legislator was grabbed while his colleagues looked at the scene in disbelief.

At one point, Alabama Republican Rep. Mike Rogers began charging at Gaetz before a fellow party member, Richard Hudson, physically grabbed him.

“Keep order!” someone yelled.

Republicans rushed to adjourn, but McCarthy changed his vote to continue session as his colleagues chanted “One More Time!”

The few Republicans who resisted the election then began to vote “present”, which reduced the number of votes he needed to win the position at the end of a dramatic fourth day of impasse that has shown the strengths and frailties of democracy. US.

McCarthy had told reporters earlier in the day that he believed “we will have the votes to end this once and for all.”

In the last round, the count was 216-212, with Democrats backing Hakeem Jeffries, and six Republicans voting only “present” to ease the election.

The surprising unlocking of the situation came after McCarthy agreed to many of his critics’ demands, including reinstating an old House rule that would allow a single lawmaker to call a vote to remove him.

Despite winning the votes, McCarthy appears as a weakened leader who has had to give up some of his powers and will be under constant threat of being ousted by his detractors.

But it could also be bolstered by winning one of the most brutal House races in American history. Never since the Civil War have so many rounds of voting been needed.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.