House speaker vote: McCarthy thanks Trump for final votes as fight nearly breaks out on floor
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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.
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Twelfth speaker vote underway as McCarthy hints at progress
Rep Mike Garcia is nominating Kevin McCarthy in the twelfth speaker ballot as the GOP leader tells reporters that some votes will move in this vote after days of stalemate.
Memorable images from the first three 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
Clyburn nominates Jeffries
Former Whip Jim Clyburn nominates Hakeem Jeffries for the speaker role.
He touches on the January 6 Capitol riot acknowledging the anniversary, saying: “But we survived.”
He also thanked House Clerk Cheryl Johnson for “your contribution to maintaining the dignity and honour of this august body. The eyes of the country are on us today”.
Gaetz nominates Jim Jordan
As the representative of the “Never Kevin” group, Matt Gaetz nominates Jim Jordan for the role of speaker.
He says: “You only earn the position of speaker of the House if you have the votes.”
“One must wonder, madam clerk, is this an exercise in vanity?” he adds.
“We do not trust Mr McCarthy with power ... We trust Jim Jordan.”
Boebert nominates Kevin Hern
Once again Lauren Boebert has nominated Kevin Hern, pitching him as a unity candidate.
Unlike Gaetz, she kept her remarks brief.
What was the reaction to Gaetz?
Not great.
First, someone shouted him down during his remarks.
People walked out, and finally no one clapped.
Bishop and Brecheen flip to McCarthy
Dan Bishop who yesterday nominated Byron Donalds has flipped to support Kevin McCarthy.
A moment later so did Josh Brecheen.
McCarthy appears to have fulfilled his promise of some progress in the vote counts.
Cloud and Clyde flip to McCarthy
Michael Cloud and Andrew Clyde also flip to McCarthy.
Byron Donalds flips to McCarthy
Byron Donalds, yesterday the nominee for the holdouts against McCarthy, flips for the GOP leader.
He is the fifth person to switch to McCarthy.
The roll call vote continues.
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