GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy finally won the speakership just around midnight on Saturday evening, resolving a historic 15-round stalemate that completely frustrated both sides, this past week.
The California Republican’s hard-won ascendancy follows a feud that saw a group of conservatives repeatedly defy him.
GOP rebels Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Bob Good (R-Va.), Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) and Rep.-elect Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) voted “present” on the 15th ballot.
After his victory in the 15th and final vote, McCarthy lauded: “I hope one thing is clear after this week: I will never give up. I will never give up for you, the American people. And I will never give up on keeping our Commitment to America.”
My father always told me: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And now we need to finish strong for the American people. pic.twitter.com/GoWs7cbegn
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) January 8, 2023
I hope one thing is clear after this week: I will never give up. And I will never give up for you, the American people. https://t.co/uLqPKa1maZ
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) January 7, 2023
Good. Now he can tear up Biden’s speech after he finishes speaking the way Pelosi did for Trump.