After a four-day long election process, Kevin McCarthy was elected as the new speaker of the US House of Representatives on Saturday.
The 57-year-old Californian needed a simple majority to be elected as Washington’s top legislator, who presides over House business and is second in line to the presidency, after the vice president.
However, the deeply divided Republicans took 15 rounds of voting over four days to fend off a right-wing, anti-McCarthy rebellion.
This marks the longest speakership election in 160 years and the first time in 100 years that a speaker didn’t win on the first ballot.
The midterm elections in November left Republicans with a narrow 222-212 majority, giving outsized power to the right-wing hardliners who opposed McCarthy’s leadership.
McCarthy was only able to be elected with the votes of fewer than half the House members because five in his own party withheld their votes – not backing him as leader, but also not voting for another contender.
In order to secure the position, McCarthy agreed to a demand by hardliners that any lawmaker be able to call for his removal at any time. This will significantly reduce his power when trying to pass legislation on critical issues, including funding the government, addressing the nation’s looming debt ceiling, and other potential crises.
Despite the contentious election process, McCarthy took the stage as the new speaker with a message of unity. “My father always told me it’s not how you started, it’s how you finished,” he said. “And now we need to finish strong for the American people.”
He also extended an olive branch to the Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, stating that their political differences may be passionate but will never be personal. Democratic President Joe Biden also offered his congratulations to the new Republican speaker, pledging to work with Republicans when he can.
“As I said after the midterms, I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can and voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well.
“Now that the leadership of the House of Representatives has been decided it is time for that process to begin,” said Biden in a statement.