The late-night votes followed a breakthrough for McCarthy on Friday, in which 15 of his Republican opponents cast their votes for the caucus leader following negotiations in which McCarthy promised reforms to the rules of the House.
Should McCarthy be speaker?
Yes: 36% (5 Votes)
No: 64% (9 Votes)
Even the final vote that preceded McCarthy’s election saw its share of drama.
McCarthy directly confronted Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz after he failed to secure the gavel by one vote, with Gaetz voting ‘present’ in that tally.
In his own interaction with Gaetz, Alabama GOP Rep. Mike Rogers was physically restrained by North Carolina Rep. Rich Hudson, also a Republican, after McCarthy came up short in the 14th vote for the office.
Hudson appeared to grab Rodgers by the face in the altercation.
As tensions boiled over on the House floor during the speaker votes, Republican Mike Rogers of Alabama started to charge toward Matt Gaetz before Richard Hudson physically pulled him back.
The 15 rounds of voting it took to elect McCarthy amounted to the lengthiest election for a speaker since before the Civil War, according to the Post.
McCarthy was sworn in as speaker after a floor speech that invoked the historical legacy of Abraham Lincoln, and made reference to the everyday families of McCarthy’s Bakersfield-area California district.
After taking his place as speaker, McCarthy swore in the House members of the 118th Congress.
God is looking for humble people. People that aren't out for self-serving interests, but those who are willing to put Him first and let Him get the glory. [...]