Rep. Kevin McCarthy has been elected as speaker of the House after a historic fifteen rounds of voting over four days.
McCarthy, who previously served as the House Minority Leader, won the speakership position with 216 votes. The Republican Party narrowly controls the House with 222 to the Democrats’ 212.
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., nominated McCarthy and Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. in the 14th round of voting. Jeffries won 212 votes.
Republicans Andy Biggs of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Eli Crane of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, and Matt Rosendale of Montana voted “present.”
15 Republicans changed their votes in McCarthy’s favor on Friday: Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Chip Roy of Texas, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, Byron Donalds of Florida, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Keith Self of Texas, Michael Cloud of Texas, Mary Miller of Illinois, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Paul Gosar of Arizona, and Andy Harris of Maryland.
Republican Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana won the House Majority Leader position, Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota won the House Majority Whip position, and Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York was re-elected to the House conference chair position in November.
House Democrats nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York for the speaker of the House position in every round.
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts congratulated the members of Congress after the vote. (The Daily Signal is the Heritage Foundation’s news outlet.)
“This is a historic moment for our country. American voters delivered a mandate for conservative leadership in November—a mandate to put an end to business as usual in Washington. That demand is now being fulfilled by those members taking seriously their commitment to their constituents,” Roberts said. “In the face of extreme Establishment rhetoric and media spin, conservatives fought for their constituents, had a robust debate over how to fix Congress, and now have a stronger voice to make meaningful changes.”
“There is much work to be done and Heritage looks forward to working with the 118th Congress to address the most pressing issues facing Americans today, including border security, Biden’s dismal economy, countering the Chinese Communist Party, and serving as a key partner in holding unelected bureaucrats accountable through the oversight process,” he added. “The battle for the Speaker’s gavel has been a small step for the everyday American, and a giant leap for Congress.”
“It’s time to get to work.”
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