It was an extraordinary moment that brought House Republicans to the brink — and, at that moment, they clawed their way back to reality.
With just a vote short of realizing his lifelong dream of becoming speaker of the House-California Republican, Kevin McCarthy got up from his chair. He walked gingerly down the center aisle towards the back of the chamber. It was now close to midnight, and the thought he had already lost 13 votes for speaker over four long days must have been weighing heavily on his mind.
Suddenly the room fell almost silent. It then became apparent that the GOP leader was begging the bombastic, blustering, defiant carnival barker, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, to switch his vote from “present” to “McCarthy.”
But Gaetz, who had hurled personal insults at McCarthy earlier while addressing the House, said no.
McCarthy slowly walked back down the aisle again, looking like a defeated man. But he made an about-turn. He must have heard the scuffle behind him. Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican ally of McCarthy, angrily confronted Gaetz, telling him he would regret his decision. Lawmakers on the floor sighed in disbelief as Rogers was held back by a colleague.
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McCarthy walked back to ensure the argument was over and returned to his chair, looking defeated.
He had lost the 14th vote. And allies moved quickly to adjourn the House because their hope for unity was seemingly hopeless.
Then tempers eventually cooled. And within one hour, McCarthy and his allies had successfully persuaded his other remaining opponents to vote “present.” Which would lower the vote total necessary for McCarthy to win and hand him the speakership by early Saturday morning.
Phew! After a historic and somewhat astonishing week of repeated votes. McCarthy realized his dream. But it did not come easy. He had to wheel and deal. Ring a few arms and calm a few nerves. Most of us would have given up-not McCarthy.
“I hope one thing is clear,” McCarthy said when he finally took the gavel after 1 a.m. “I never give up.”
Kevin McCarthy