Washington.- Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was on the verge of becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives on Friday night as members advanced in a historic, tension-filled 14th ballot.
Before the vote, McCarthy had turned 15 reluctant conservatives into supporters, including the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, leaving him within steps of taking the gavel for the new Congress.
The House relented late at night, allowing time for last-minute negotiations and for absentee Republican colleagues to return to Washington if their votes were needed. But the camera went tense and still when the roll call fell short.
Even after two key reluctant Republicans voted present to lower the bill he would need, it wasn’t enough. McCarthy walked to the back of the chamber to confront Matt Gaetz sitting with Lauren Boebert and other holdouts. Fingers pointed, words were exchanged, and colleagues looked on in disbelief.
