Categories: Top Stories

Breaking: Kevin McCarthy elected US House Speaker amid chaotic scenes

Kevin McCarthy has been elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives amid heated exchanges which almost saw fellow Republicans come to blows.

It took 15 rounds of voting for Mr McCarthy to win the job, despite his party having a majority in the chamber.

Advertisement

It came after a dramatic pressure campaign played out live on the House floor as party rebel Matt Gaetz was urged to vote for Mr McCarthy.

The Florida Congressman was among six holdouts who relented late on Friday.

Advertisement

Earlier, amid heated scenes in the chamber, Mr Gaetz had almost come to blows with Rep Mike Rogers – a supporter of Mr McCarthy. The Alabama congressman had to be physically restrained by colleagues as he bellowed and jabbed his finger at Mr Gaetz.

The Speaker sets the House agenda and oversees legislative business. The post is second in line to the presidency after the US vice-president.

Advertisement

Speaking after his confirmation, Mr McCarthy wrote on Twitter: “I hope one thing is clear after this week: I will never give up. And I will never give up for you, the American people.”

US President Joe Biden congratulated Mr McCarthy for his win and said he looked forward to co-operating with the Republican Party.

Advertisement

“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,” he said.

Republicans have already pledged to launch investigations into Mr Biden’s family business dealings and administration.

Advertisement

In a remarkable turnaround in the 12th round of voting, Mr McCarthy was able to persuade 14 Republican holdouts to cast their vote for him. A 15th rebel followed suit for the 13th ballot.

After the 13th ballot was adjourned, Mr McCarthy insisted to reporters that he would “have the votes” to take the speakership on the next round.

Advertisement

But the California congressman was still three votes short of the 217 he needed to take the prized gavel, and in chaotic and dramatic scenes, he again failed to win on the 14th ballot.

The dissidents included members of the House Freedom Caucus, who argue that Mr McCarthy is not conservative enough to lead them as they work to try to oppose Democratic President Joe Biden’s agenda.

Advertisement

Mr McCarthy has offered various concessions to the rebels, including a seat on the influential rules committee, which sets the terms for debate on legislation in the chamber.

He also agreed to lower the threshold for triggering a vote on whether to unseat the Speaker, to only one House member, leading to the possibility that the Republican coalition could easily fracture again even after Mr McCarthy’s victory.

Advertisement

As the last politician on the roll – Montana’s Ryan Zinke – voted, the House floor erupted in applause as it became clear Mr McCarthy had finally emerged victorious.

Mr McCarthy hugged other representatives and signed autographs, but across the room the Democrats’ side was completely silent. No democrat applauded.

Advertisement

Senior Democratic Party lawmakers accused Mr McCarthy of ceding power to an extreme wing of his party and likened the stand-off to the riot exactly two years ago on Capitol Hill by Trump supporters who disrupted Mr Biden’s certification as president.

“Two years ago insurrectionists failed to take over the Capitol,” Congressman Eric Swalwell wrote on Twitter. “Tonight Kevin McCarthy let them take over the Republican Party.”

Advertisement

And Virginia Congressman Don Beyer referred to the angry scenes among Republicans that followed the 14th count.

“Unsettling that this process ends in threats of violence in the House Chamber, on this of all days,” he said. “Maybe it didn’t determine the outcome, but that is no way to conduct the people’s business. A dark and sobering moment will probably be remembered long after this session ends.”

Advertisement

The minority Democrats had continued to vote in unison for their leader, New York’s Hakeem Jeffries, the first black person ever to lead a party in Congress.

Friday was the first day that Mr McCarthy’s vote count actually surpassed that of Mr Jeffries.

Advertisement

Mr McCarthy opened his acceptance speech joking; “that was easy, eh?”. He outlined a range of Republican policy objectives that included lowering prices, securing the US-Mexico border and combatting what he described as a “woke indoctrination”.

He said one of his primary goals was to stop “wasteful Washington spending”.

Advertisement

The lawmakers began leaving the Congress around 02:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Saturday morning – 14 hours after the gavel first rang at noon.

Not since 1860 in the build-up to the American Civil War has the lower chamber of Congress voted this many times to pick a speaker. Back then it took 44 rounds of ballots.

Advertisement

In November’s midterm elections, Republicans won the House by a weaker-than-expected margin of 222 to 212. Democrats retained control of the Senate.

Advertisement
Sola Adeyemo

Recent Posts

NIGERIAN BREWERIES PARTNERS OZA CARNIVAL

PRESS STATEMENT Nigerian Breweries PLC - The pioneer and largest brewing company in Nigeria which is…

11 hours ago

CAF Made Me Believe I Won – Achraf Hakimi

Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi has spoken out following his defeat by Ademola Lookman for…

23 hours ago

Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury to tetain heavyweight title

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk reinforced his position as one of the greatest heavyweight champions in…

23 hours ago

Nigerian Emergency Agency NEMA Puts All Offices On Alert Over Fatal Stampedes

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said it has put all its zonal, territorial…

23 hours ago

We Will Bury PDP, Ibori’s Daughter Blows Hot

Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives…

23 hours ago

Emefiele: EFCC secures final forfeiture of 1.925 hectares of landed property linked to former CBN Governor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly secured a final forfeiture order for…

23 hours ago