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It’s been a dramatic and historic few days in the House, with McCarthy finally becoming Speaker after four long days and 15 rounds of voting.
What is normally a straightforward proceeding was filled with drama: popcorn in the House, a fallout and near-fight between Republicans and a phone call from former President Donald Trump.
Here are some of the most dramatic and colorful moments from the past week:
1. A fight almost breaks out after Gaetz gives McCarthy a short vote
By far the most dramatic moment came at the end: during the 14th round of voting on Friday, in what almost everyone had expected to be the final round.
Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) had made sure all eyes would be on him, refusing to answer the secretary’s initial call and maneuvering for a later deciding vote. Finally, he voted “present,” prompting his fellow Republicans who believed this would secure McCarthy’s position as speaker to give him a standing ovation.
The last-minute drama that momentarily derailed McCarthy, again
In fact, his “current” vote left McCarthy still one vote short. As Democrats laughed and Gaetz ignored calls from McCarthy and his allies to break the deadlock, one member’s temper boiled over: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) began yelling at Gaetz and had to be restrained physically by another lawmaker, who took Rogers, included. through his mouth and pulled him back.
Flashes could be heard in the House chamber as lawmakers realized how close they had come to a physical altercation.
How each member of the House voted for the speaker in 15 votes
2. Republicans march on Gaetz
Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) initially helped deny Rep.-elect Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) the House Speaker on Jan. 6, until he changed his mind. (Video: JM Rieger/The Washington Post, Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
It wasn’t the first bit of drama centered on Gaetz. During the 12th round of voting, when Gaetz nominated Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as speaker, he accused McCarthy of indulging in “an exercise in vanity.”
“Mr. McCarthy doesn’t have the votes today. He won’t have the votes tomorrow and he won’t have the votes next week, next month, next year,” Gaetz said.
His words prompted Michael Bost (R-Ill.), a McCarthy supporter, to interrupt him with angry shouts: which had not happened during the first three days of voting. Other GOP lawmakers walked off the House floor in protest, with some calling Gaetz “a clown.”
Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker of the House, breaking the historic deadlock
3. Donald Trump on the line
Former President Donald Trump was not physically in the chamber, but lawmakers were constantly reminded of his presence. Trump had endorsed McCarthy and urged Republicans to vote for him, though some holdovers seemed unconvinced or voted for Trump. Trump also called Gaetz and pushed him to find a solution, according to a source with knowledge of the conversation who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail a private discussion.
In a dramatic moment on the floor, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) could be seen brandishing a phone with “DT” — Donald Trump — apparently on the other end of the line. She tried to hand it over to Matthew M. Rosendale (R-Mont.), one of the anti-McCarthy holdouts, but Rosendale appeared to do it.
Rosendale had also taunted his fellow lawmakers during the 12th ballot, announcing his vote was for “Kevin.” He then stopped and looked around for dramatic effect, then smiled and added “Hern!” to groans, and a republican shouting: “Sick!
4. Democrats pop the popcorn
Democrats seemed to anticipate the drama from day one, with several lawmakers posting pictures of themselves carrying popcorn on the House floor on Tuesday.
But Democrats’ fun was not well received by all and led to a different moment of drama Wednesday, when Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) accused them of drinking their way through votes as she nominated McCarthy in the sixth round of votes
Kevin McCarthy is in trouble. The internet has jokes
After describing it as “Groundhog Day”, Cammack said: “They want us divided. They want us to fight each other. That’s been made clear by the popcorn, the blankets and the alcohol that’s coming “.
The Democratic side of the chamber erupted at the mention of alcohol, shouting “Stop your words!” However, due to the lack of a speaker, his words could not be taken off the record.
As round after vote in the House of Representatives failed to produce a speaker, it looked like “Groundhog Day” on Capitol Hill. (Video: Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)
5. A white Republican accused a black Democrat of “racist rhetoric”
Far-right Republicans nominated Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) as speaker Wednesday, marking the first time in history that the two major parties have nominated a black American to lead the House.
However, Democrat Cori Bush (Mo.) tweeted that Donalds was “not a historic candidate” for the role, accusing him of supporting a political agenda “perpetuating white supremacy” and accusing Republicans of using his nomination as “a prop”.
A white Republican member, Dan Bishop (NC), responded in the House the next day by accusing Bush, who is a black woman, of “grotesquely racist rhetoric.” Bush could then be seen appearing to stifle a laugh.
6. Democrats remember January 6
The last day of voting also marked two years since a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol.
Biden warns of the dangers posed by the “big lie”, awards the heroes of January 6
Several Democratic representatives marked the anniversary by wearing black, and many acknowledged the anniversary, with Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) saying that “the same people who fanned the flames of Jan. 6 … can be in charge of the House of the people.”
Veronica Escobar (D-Tex.) recalled: “That day, when my colleagues and I were trapped in this gallery, the terrorists who attacked our police officers were able [be] he heard banging on these doors, breaking these windows. And they were here to prevent the certification of a free and fair election.”
7. Children and pets on the ground
It wasn’t just House members who showed up for the many rounds of voting — many representatives also brought their families to the House on Tuesday to celebrate the new term and inauguration.
Some children were still on the floor of the House and awake to watch the oath in the early hours of Saturday.
Meet the restless kids who were also stuck in the Capitol this week
A bipartisan moment came Friday as Republicans and Democrats rose after Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Tex.), who had flown to Texas within 24 hours to see his wife, who had recently given birth, vote. McCarthy also walked down the aisle to shake his hand.
On a different note: Nancy Mace (RS.C.) was seen carrying a puppy to the back of the chamber, a possible sign that there were few rules before a speaker was chosen.
8. The last moments of the drama before McCarthy reached the gavel
The 15th and final vote also took place in dramatic circumstances. Late Friday night, as McCarthy’s speakership bid appeared to have been thwarted again, lawmakers began voting to adjourn until Monday.
But moments before the vote ended, McCarthy indicated he had a deal, quickly changing his own vote not to adjourn, and leaders decided to take a 15th and final roll call for the speaker, while the Republicans chanted, “Once again, once again. .”
How each member of the House voted for the speaker in 15 votes
Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), during the final round of voting, summed up the thoughts of many after an intense four days: “Madam secretary, I stand up to say, ‘Wow.’
With each vote in the balance, there was one last drama as a Republican accidentally voted incorrectly. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) responded with “present” when her name was called during the last round, prompting alarmed looks from other Republicans. A colleague shouted “McCarthy!” to alert her to her mistake, and Spartz quickly corrected herself.
When McCarthy finally received the speaker’s gavel after four long days of voting, he joked, “That was easy, wasn’t it?”
Within a tumultuous week in Congress, which concluded with McCarthy claiming the speaker’s gavel
He was later congratulated by Biden and others.
The surreal week was perhaps best summed up by the youngest new member of the House, Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), 25, who said, “I’m going to be sworn in at 1 a.m. Saturday after two members almost put on a physical. altercation in the House after my 15th vote as speaker on my fourth day here.”
Dylan Wells, John Wagner, Mariana Alfaro, Amy B Wang, Eugene Scott, Liz Goodwin, Jacqueline Alemany and Roxanne Roberts contributed to this report.