WASHINGTON — Kevin McCarthy finally secured the votes needed to win the speaker’s chair in the House early Saturday, but it was not without drama as tempers reached a boiling point. After a 14th vote to elect McCarthy failed by one vote late Friday, a senior Republican was restrained by others from a potential clash with Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.
The 14th roll call, taken at about 11 p.m. EST, left Republicans frustrated as Gaetz had declined again to vote for McCarthy, The New York Times reported.
Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, who is in line to become the next chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, stepped toward Gaetz and had to be restrained, according to the newspaper.
Rep. Hudson, R-N.C., left, pulls Rep. Rogers, R-Ala., as he confronts Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., during the 14th round of voting for speaker as the House meets for the fourth day to try and elect a speaker in Washington, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. (@AP Photo/@andyharnik) pic.twitter.com/ok3K8ERtfU
— Andrew Harnik (@andyharnik) January 7, 2023
The moment was captured on C-SPAN’s cameras. It came after Gaetz, who had maneuvered himself into a position to cast the last ballot, voted “present,” according to The Washington Post. That vote, along with a “present” vote from Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., left McCarthy with 216 votes out of 432 cast. Because both representatives voted “present,” their votes did not count in the overall tally, forcing a 15th ballot.
After Gaetz’s vote, McCarthy walked up the center aisle toward the two representatives and engaged in a finger-pointing exchange with the Florida representative, CNN reported.
McCarthy, along with Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., and other Republicans -- including Rogers -- tried to get Gaetz to switch his vote before it was gaveled shut, according to the Post.
Video and photographs show Rogers beginning to yell at Gaetz, according to the newspaper. Rogers reportedly told Gaetz that he would regret his decision, The Associated Press reported.
Richard Hudson, R-N.C. another member of the GOP leadership group, grabbed Rogers when the Alabama lawmaker lunged toward Gaetz, covering his mouth and physically pulling him away from the group, the Post reported.
Neither Gaetz nor a spokesperson for Rogers immediately responded to requests for comment, according to the Times.
McCarthy would be elected speaker on the 15th ballot within the next hour. He downplayed the turmoil in the chamber to reporters, the newspaper reported.
“Oh nothing,” he told reporters who asked what happened. “I mean, we ended up with a tie, and he was able to get the others to be able to go present.”
“I hope one thing is clear,” McCarthy said when he finally took the gavel after 1 a.m. EST. “I never give up.”
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