After 15 rounds of voting held over five days and painstaking negotiations, Kevin McCarthy was elected House speaker in the early hours of Saturday morning. This is a major victory for the California Republican that elevates him to a powerful position leading the GOP majority in the chamber.
To secure the gavel, McCarthy has to make some concessions and promises to GOP holdouts after tense negotiations for days. McCarthy’s victory means that the House can now proceed with the rest of its business as the elected representatives have finally been sworn in as members of the 118th Congress.
This was the first time in 100 years that the election for House speaker had gone to multiple ballots. It was also the longest speaker contest in 164 years.
After being elected speaker, McCarthy gave a speech calling on the importance of checks and balances and holding government accountable. “It’s time for us to be a check and provide some balance to the president’s policies,” he said.
“We commit to stop wasteful Washington spending, to lower the price of groceries, gas, cars, housing, and stop the rising national debt.”
