Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) was elected speaker of the House early Saturday morning after four days and 15 ballots, resuscitating a chamber that had been paralyzed as it endured the longest struggle to elect a leader since before the Civil War.
McCarthy’s long-delayed triumph marks the high point of a congressional career he began as a staffer for former Rep. Bill Thomas more than three decades ago.
But the Republican leader’s victory came at a price. To secure the votes required to succeed fellow Californian Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) as speaker, McCarthy had to agree to compromises that dramatically weaken the power of the post.
The deals McCarthy struck with a group of fewer than two dozen hard-line Republicans will empower the far right of his party ahead of a congressional term that promises contentious battles over funding the federal government and increasing the debt ceiling.
Advertisement
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) is congratulated by other members of Congress in the House chamber after his election as speaker early Saturday morning.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), left, speaks to Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and others Friday after again declining to support the GOP leader.
(Alex Brandon / Associated Press)
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), left, prevents Rep. Mike D. Rogers (R-Ala.) from approaching Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) during the 14th round of voting Friday.
(Andrew Harnik / Associated Press)
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), left, restrains Rep. Mike D. Rogers (R-Ala.) in the House chamber Friday.
(Andrew Harnik / Associated Press)
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) flexes his arm alongside Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) after getting into an argument with Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) in the House chamber during the fourth day of elections for speaker of the House.
(Win McNamee / Getty Images)
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), left, speaks to Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) on the House floor Friday night.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) points to the newly installed nameplate at his office after he was sworn in as speaker of the 118th Congress in Washington early Saturday.
(Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) holds a phone with the initials “DT” in the House chamber.
(Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) holds up a tally sheet in the House chamber as Republican Kevin McCarthy is elected speaker.
(Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy receives the gavel from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) after the vote early Saturday.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
McCarthy celebrates winning the speakership.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
McCarthy and Jeffries embrace after their ascension as their respective party leaders in the House.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
McCarthy presides over the swearing-in of members of the 118th House of Representatives early Saturday.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
McCarthy speaks to reporters in National Statuary Hall in the Capitol on Saturday.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
McCarthy gets a hug from Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) after winning the House speakership.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
To secure enough votes, McCarthy agreed to compromises that dramatically weaken the power of the post.
