The U.S. House of Representatives elected GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of California as speaker in a dramatic 15th vote. Watch this video to know more.

McCarthy elected House speaker after 15 votes and days of negotiations

Republican Kevin McCarthy finally secured the support he needed and was elected as the Speaker of US House of Representatives after the lawmakers cast their votes for a record 15th round and much chaos. The last round of voting took place shortly after results of the 14th round were declared.&nbsp;McCarthy had been expected finally to win a majority to lead the Republican-controlled House, but his victory lap was derailed by a right-wing rebellion in its own ranks that extended the contest to one of the longest in US history.&nbsp;

McCarthy had been hoping to secure the gavel in the 14th round before midnight Friday, but suffered a shock defeat amid Republican infighting as he came up short by just one vote out of more than 400 cast.

In the 14th round of voting McCarthy got 216 votes while Democratic candidate Hakeem Jeffries got 212. Andy Biggs received support from 2 representatives, as did Jim Jordan. According to these results, McCarthy was just one vote shy of the number that he required to clinch victory.

Six Republicans withheld their votes or voted for other candidates, hours after McCarthy&nbsp; had predicted that "It's going to happen."

In hope&nbsp;of securing enough votes to win, he had called an hours-long recess for the chamber, with lawmakers returning at 10 p.m. (0300 GMT Saturday) for another round of voting.

The decisive moment came when hardline Representative Matt Gaetz withheld his vote from McCarthy. Members of the party leadership hovered over the Florida Republican for several minutes trying to persuade him to change his mind before admitting defeat.

The prolonged contest left the House rudderless after a week of repeated votes that highlighted Republicans' divisions and raised questions about their ability to govern. The chamber has not seen this level of congressional dysfunction since 1859.

After McCarthy clinched victory, US President Joe Biden vowed to work with every lawmaker including the Republicans.

"I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can," he said. "This is a time to govern responsibly and to ensure that we're putting the interests of American families first."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Republican Kevin McCarthy finally secured the support he needed and was elected as the Speaker of US House of Representatives after the lawmakers cast their votes for a record 15th round and much chaos.

Republican Kevin McCarthy finally secured the support he needed and was elected as the Speaker of US House of Representatives after the lawmakers cast their votes for a record 15th round and much chaos. The last round of voting took place shortly after results of the 14th round were declared. McCarthy had been expected finally to win a majority to lead the Republican-controlled House, but his victory lap was derailed by a right-wing rebellion in its own ranks that extended the contest to one of the longest in US history. McCarthy had been hoping to secure the gavel in the 14th round before midnight Friday, but suffered a shock defeat amid Republican infighting as he came up short by just one vote out of more than 400 cast. In the 14th round of voting McCarthy got 216 votes while Democratic candidate Hakeem Jeffries got 212. Andy Biggs received support from 2 representatives, as did Jim Jordan. According to these results, McCarthy was just one vote shy of the number that he required to clinch victory. Six Republicans withheld their votes or voted for other candidates, hours after McCarthy had predicted that "It's going to happen." In hope of securing enough votes to win, he had called an hours-long recess for the chamber, with lawmakers returning at 10 p.m. (0300 GMT Saturday) for another round of voting. The decisive moment came when hardline Representative Matt Gaetz withheld his vote from McCarthy. Members of the party leadership hovered over the Florida Republican for several minutes trying to persuade him to change his mind before admitting defeat. The prolonged contest left the House rudderless after a week of repeated votes that highlighted Republicans' divisions and raised questions about their ability to govern. The chamber has not seen this level of congressional dysfunction since 1859. After McCarthy clinched victory, US President Joe Biden vowed to work with every lawmaker including the Republicans. "I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can," he said. "This is a time to govern responsibly and to ensure that we're putting the interests of American families first." (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Kevin McCarthy finally elected House speaker after 15 rounds of voting spread across four days

Republican Kevin McCarthy, who faces rebellion from within his ranks lost eleven rounds of voting for the US House speaker seat so far. This is the longest fight in the US House for the position of Speaker. But there is another Republican candidate Kevin Hern who is now seen to be a contender for the crucial seat with the ability to shape legislation.

<h2>Who is Kevin Hern, an anti-McCarthy?&nbsp;</h2>

Kevin Hern, 61, is a Republican from Oklahoma. One of the 147 Republicans who voted to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election is Hern. He is the recently elected chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative caucus in the House.

Hern, a businessman and former aerospace engineer who was first elected to Congress in 2018, will serve his third term in office. In the aerospace industry, when the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster took place in 1986, Kevin was out of work. Later, he started his own business and worked as an aerospace engineer for Rockwell International, according to his congressional biography.

<h2>Who all voted for Kevin Hern?&nbsp;</h2>

He was nominated by Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert. Representative Boebert is one of the far-rights anti-McCarthy, from the start. What was interesting to see in the eighth ballot was that Boebert flipped and voted in favour of Hern instead of Florida Representative Byron Donalds. She nominated Hern for the ninth and 10th ballots.

On the eighth vote, Hern received a vote from second District Congressman-elect Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma and Lauren, a total of two votes. Moreover, he received seven votes on the 10th and 11th ballots. At least 20 Republicans are in rebel mode and are holding a firm stance against Kevin McCarthy. In this situation, it is difficult to predict which way the tide would turn.&nbsp;

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Republican Kevin McCarthy, who faces rebellion from within his ranks lost eleven rounds of voting for the US House speaker seat so far. This is the longest fight in the US House for the position of Speaker.

Republican Kevin McCarthy, who faces rebellion from within his ranks lost eleven rounds of voting for the US House speaker seat so far. This is the longest fight in the US House for the position of Speaker. But there is another Republican candidate Kevin Hern who is now seen to be a contender for the crucial seat with the ability to shape legislation. Who is Kevin Hern, an anti-McCarthy? Kevin Hern, 61, is a Republican from Oklahoma. One of the 147 Republicans who voted to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election is Hern. He is the recently elected chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative caucus in the House. Hern, a businessman and former aerospace engineer who was first elected to Congress in 2018, will serve his third term in office. In the aerospace industry, when the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster took place in 1986, Kevin was out of work. Later, he started his own business and worked as an aerospace engineer for Rockwell International, according to his congressional biography. Who all voted for Kevin Hern? He was nominated by Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert. Representative Boebert is one of the far-rights anti-McCarthy, from the start. What was interesting to see in the eighth ballot was that Boebert flipped and voted in favour of Hern instead of Florida Representative Byron Donalds. She nominated Hern for the ninth and 10th ballots. On the eighth vote, Hern received a vote from second District Congressman-elect Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma and Lauren, a total of two votes. Moreover, he received seven votes on the 10th and 11th ballots. At least 20 Republicans are in rebel mode and are holding a firm stance against Kevin McCarthy. In this situation, it is difficult to predict which way the tide would turn.

Who is Kevin Hern, an anti-McCarthy and Republicans' alternative for US House speakership?

The US House of Representatives failed to break the deadlock for a third consecutive day to select the next speaker. The Republicans could not band together as nominee Kevin McCarthy lost the 11th ballot. The House was adjourned till noon after the motion was passed 219-213.&nbsp;

With the loss, the stage is set for a 12th ballot which makes it the longest-running speaker election contest in 164 years.&nbsp;

While McCarthy managed to receive 201 votes yesterday, his tally dwindled by one on Thursday&nbsp;after Rep.-elect Ken Buck of Colorado was forced to leave the session for a medical appointment.&nbsp; He is not expected to be back till mid-day tomorrow or even later.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-republicans-fail-to-elect-a-speaker-after-2-days-and-6-rounds-of-votes-549866">WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Republicans fail to elect a speaker after 2 days and 6 rounds of votes</a>

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Notably, McCarthy needs to reach the magical figure of 218 to stake his claim to become the speaker. However, he cannot afford to lose more than four party colleagues, which unfortunately hasn't been the case ever since the 118th Congressional session began on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The rebel group of far-right Republican leaders who have earned the nickname 'Taliban 20' have thrown a spanner in the election process. The&nbsp;renegades do not want McCarthy as the speaker and have used the razor-thin majority of Republicans in the House to their advantage.&nbsp;&nbsp;

GOP leader&nbsp;Matt Gaetz who has been leading the anti-McCarthyist crusade voted&nbsp;for Donald Trump during the ballots on Thursday, a day after calling the&nbsp;former president's support for McCarthy 'sad'.&nbsp;

“And so I nominate President Trump, because we must make our country great again, and he can start by making the House of Representative great again,” said Gaetz.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-republican-kevin-mccarthy-the-last-of-the-young-guns-in-us-congress-549366">Read more:&nbsp;Who is Republican Kevin McCarthy, the last of the 'young guns' in US Congress?</a>

Without the election of a House speaker, Congress cannot work as no nominations can be confirmed, committees cannot be formed and legislations cannot be passed.

A result is highly unlikely and adjournment seems the best bet for McCarthy. Multiple reports have suggested that his side has made more concessions to the 'Never Kevins' but the fight for 218 remains chaotic as ever.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The US House of Representatives failed to break the deadlock for a third consecutive day to select the next speaker. The Republicans could not band together as nominee Kevin McCarthy lost the 11th ballot.

The US House of Representatives failed to break the deadlock for a third consecutive day to select the next speaker. The Republicans could not band together as nominee Kevin McCarthy lost the 11th ballot. The House was adjourned till noon after the motion was passed 219-213. With the loss, the stage is set for a 12th ballot which makes it the longest-running speaker election contest in 164 years. While McCarthy managed to receive 201 votes yesterday, his tally dwindled by one on Thursday after Rep.-elect Ken Buck of Colorado was forced to leave the session for a medical appointment. He is not expected to be back till mid-day tomorrow or even later. WATCH | Gravitas: Republicans fail to elect a speaker after 2 days and 6 rounds of votes × Notably, McCarthy needs to reach the magical figure of 218 to stake his claim to become the speaker. However, he cannot afford to lose more than four party colleagues, which unfortunately hasn't been the case ever since the 118th Congressional session began on Tuesday. The rebel group of far-right Republican leaders who have earned the nickname 'Taliban 20' have thrown a spanner in the election process. The renegades do not want McCarthy as the speaker and have used the razor-thin majority of Republicans in the House to their advantage. GOP leader Matt Gaetz who has been leading the anti-McCarthyist crusade voted for Donald Trump during the ballots on Thursday, a day after calling the former president's support for McCarthy 'sad'. “And so I nominate President Trump, because we must make our country great again, and he can start by making the House of Representative great again,” said Gaetz. Read more: Who is Republican Kevin McCarthy, the last of the 'young guns' in US Congress? Without the election of a House speaker, Congress cannot work as no nominations can be confirmed, committees cannot be formed and legislations cannot be passed. A result is highly unlikely and adjournment seems the best bet for McCarthy. Multiple reports have suggested that his side has made more concessions to the 'Never Kevins' but the fight for 218 remains chaotic as ever. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US House adjourned: McCarthy loses 11th ballot in the longest speaker contest in 164 years

The newly-elected US House of representatives has again failed to elect their speaker after 11 rounds of voting in the last three days. GOP members are now warning that the impasse could have been implications on national security related issues.

US House Speaker stalemate drags on, Kevin McCarthy loses 11th speaker vote

Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida emerged as an alternative for conservative holdouts who are refusing to back Kevin McCarthy's quest for House speaker as Republicans battled for a second day to elect a speaker. In the three rounds of voting that took place on Wednesday (4 January), Donalds received 20 votes to McCarthy's 201,&nbsp;preventing&nbsp;McCarthy from receiving the 218 votes necessary to be elected speaker of the full House. Republicans opposed to McCarthy nominated a broad selection of candidates on Tuesday, including former New York representative Lee Zeldin and representatives Andy Biggs of Arizona and Jim Jordan of Ohio. Donalds switched his vote from McCarthy to Jordan on Tuesday's final vote, siding with the rebel Republicans.

<h2>Byron Donalds: Early days&nbsp;</h2>

Donalds, 44, was chosen to serve Florida's 19th District, in the state's southwest, for a second term in November. To succeed retiring Republican Rep. Francis Rooney, Donalds won a nine-way GOP (another way of referring to the Republican party)&nbsp;primary and defeated his Democratic challenger in his first election in 2020.

A Brooklyn native who graduated from Florida State University in 2002, he was brought up&nbsp;by a single mother. He was working as a financial adviser when then-Gov. Rick Scott named him to the board of trustees of a public college, raising his ranks in Florida's GOP circles. Erika Donalds, his wife, is a supporter of the state's school choice movement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/data-lab-us-allows-abortion-pill-access-at-pharmacies-significance-amid-uss-shifting-abortion-landscape-549698">Data lab: US allows abortion pill sale at pharmacies; its significance amid shifting abortion landscape</a>

Donalds acknowledged being detained as a young man on a marijuana distribution allegation that was subsequently dropped, and he claimed to have reformed his life after that episode. In 2012, he campaigned unsuccessfully for the US House; four years later, he was elected to the Georgia House.

<h2>House speaker votes</h2>

Donalds told CBS in December 2021 that McCarthy had "done tremendous things" for House Republicans. “So right now, the question is, who’s going to be the person that’s going to take us to the next level?” Donalds said. “Kevin’s proven he can do that.”

Donalds supported McCarthy in the first two rounds of voting on Tuesday before backing Jordan in the third. Donalds tweeted as a result, saying, “reality is … McCarthy doesn’t have the votes.”

“This will take time, Democracy is messy at times, but we will be ready to govern on behalf of the American people,” Donalds added. “Debate is healthy.”

Also watch |&nbsp;Mexico sends 200 military personnel to the U.S. border city of Juarez

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Donalds cast votes in favour of himself on Wednesday when his name was put up for nomination. After one of those votes, Donalds appeared on Fox to advocate for leadership that&nbsp;“actually reflects where the American people are, and that leadership is something that is earned here in the nation’s Capitol, not just given.”

<h2>What do other representatives think of Byron Donalds?</h2>

On Tuesday, only one member—Rep. Chip Roy of Texas—voted in favour of Donalds for speaker before switching to Jordan. Roy stated in his address on Wednesday presenting Donalds that the sophomore stood for a change for both Washington and the Republican Party.

“Here we are, and for the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed into the nomination for speaker of the House,” Roy said, referring to Donalds and Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries. “This country needs a change. This country needs leadership that does not reflect this city, this town that is badly broken.”

There are now only four Black Republicans in the House, including Donalds.

Donalds was referred to as a "prop" by Cori Bush, a Black Democratic congresswoman from Missouri.

“Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy. His name being in the mix is not progress — it’s pathetic,” she tweeted.

Furthermore,&nbsp;Nominating Donalds in the fifth round, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado said the House’s job “is not to coronate the biggest fundraiser, or rubberstamp the status quo or keep on going along to get along. It’s to use our votes to elect a speaker who will enable us to get our country back on track.”

While speaking to reporters on the capitol steps,&nbsp;Donalds on Wednesday called the ongoing debate “an invigorating day for America.” He also noted that&nbsp;“there’s a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker.”

“Once we get this organized and figured out, we’ll get back to business,” he said. “It’s only Day Two, y’all. Settle down. We’re going to be all right.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida emerged as an alternative for conservative holdouts who are refusing to back Kevin McCarthy's quest for House speaker as Republicans battled for a second day to elect a speaker.

Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida emerged as an alternative for conservative holdouts who are refusing to back Kevin McCarthy's quest for House speaker as Republicans battled for a second day to elect a speaker. In the three rounds of voting that took place on Wednesday (4 January), Donalds received 20 votes to McCarthy's 201, preventing McCarthy from receiving the 218 votes necessary to be elected speaker of the full House. Republicans opposed to McCarthy nominated a broad selection of candidates on Tuesday, including former New York representative Lee Zeldin and representatives Andy Biggs of Arizona and Jim Jordan of Ohio. Donalds switched his vote from McCarthy to Jordan on Tuesday's final vote, siding with the rebel Republicans. Byron Donalds: Early days Donalds, 44, was chosen to serve Florida's 19th District, in the state's southwest, for a second term in November. To succeed retiring Republican Rep. Francis Rooney, Donalds won a nine-way GOP (another way of referring to the Republican party) primary and defeated his Democratic challenger in his first election in 2020. A Brooklyn native who graduated from Florida State University in 2002, he was brought up by a single mother. He was working as a financial adviser when then-Gov. Rick Scott named him to the board of trustees of a public college, raising his ranks in Florida's GOP circles. Erika Donalds, his wife, is a supporter of the state's school choice movement. Also read | Data lab: US allows abortion pill sale at pharmacies; its significance amid shifting abortion landscape Donalds acknowledged being detained as a young man on a marijuana distribution allegation that was subsequently dropped, and he claimed to have reformed his life after that episode. In 2012, he campaigned unsuccessfully for the US House; four years later, he was elected to the Georgia House. House speaker votes Donalds told CBS in December 2021 that McCarthy had "done tremendous things" for House Republicans. “So right now, the question is, who’s going to be the person that’s going to take us to the next level?” Donalds said. “Kevin’s proven he can do that.” Donalds supported McCarthy in the first two rounds of voting on Tuesday before backing Jordan in the third. Donalds tweeted as a result, saying, “reality is … McCarthy doesn’t have the votes.” “This will take time, Democracy is messy at times, but we will be ready to govern on behalf of the American people,” Donalds added. “Debate is healthy.” Also watch | Mexico sends 200 military personnel to the U.S. border city of Juarez Donalds cast votes in favour of himself on Wednesday when his name was put up for nomination. After one of those votes, Donalds appeared on Fox to advocate for leadership that “actually reflects where the American people are, and that leadership is something that is earned here in the nation’s Capitol, not just given.” What do other representatives think of Byron Donalds? On Tuesday, only one member—Rep. Chip Roy of Texas—voted in favour of Donalds for speaker before switching to Jordan. Roy stated in his address on Wednesday presenting Donalds that the sophomore stood for a change for both Washington and the Republican Party. “Here we are, and for the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed into the nomination for speaker of the House,” Roy said, referring to Donalds and Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries. “This country needs a change. This country needs leadership that does not reflect this city, this town that is badly broken.” There are now only four Black Republicans in the House, including Donalds. Donalds was referred to as a "prop" by Cori Bush, a Black Democratic congresswoman from Missouri. “Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy. His name being in the mix is not progress — it’s pathetic,” she tweeted. Furthermore, Nominating Donalds in the fifth round, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado said the House’s job “is not to coronate the biggest fundraiser, or rubberstamp the status quo or keep on going along to get along. It’s to use our votes to elect a speaker who will enable us to get our country back on track.” While speaking to reporters on the capitol steps, Donalds on Wednesday called the ongoing debate “an invigorating day for America.” He also noted that “there’s a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker.” “Once we get this organized and figured out, we’ll get back to business,” he said. “It’s only Day Two, y’all. Settle down. We’re going to be all right.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Who is Byron Donalds? The latest Republican nominee for House speaker pitted against Kevin McCarthy

The US House of Representatives was adjourned till 8 PM ET (0100 hours GMT) for the second consecutive day after six rounds of voting to elect the next speaker yielded no result.

The US House of Representatives was adjourned till 8 PM ET (0100 hours GMT) for the second consecutive day after six rounds of voting to elect the next speaker yielded no result. After the house reassembled, the Republicans brought in a motion to adjourn for the night. While all Democrats voted no, the Republicans managed to band together and voted 216-214 to have the House adjourned till noon tomorrow. The House remained in a deadlock as a civil war within the Republican party meant that speaker nominee Kevin McCarthy could not reach the magical figure of 218. After Tuesday's disappointment where McCarthy lost in three ballot rounds, the House gathered on Wednesday to find a solution. However, through the course of the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds of voting, it became clear that a solution was far from being found. As many as 20 Republicans pledged to not support McCarthy who stood 17 shy of the majority with 201 votes. McCarthy's party opponents on Wednesday nominated Bryon Donalds as their candidate after he flipped to the anti-McCarthy side on Tuesday during the last ballot voting. Donalds managed to gain 20 votes throughout Wednesday's ballots while Democrats remained united and kept voting Rep. Hakeem Jeffries who stood closest with 212 votes. WATCH | U.S. House Speaker Voting: No majority for republican speaker candidate Kevin McCarthy × This is the first time in a century that a speaker nominee has not been able to secure the votes. With no light at the end of the tunnel visible, Democrat leaders are offering suggestions to break the deadlock. Democrat leader and House member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggested that McCarthy may consider entering into negotiations with the Democrats to secure the required votes. "The question is, is there anyone in their caucus that can build that consensus? If there isn't, McCarthy's team may have to come to the Democratic party. And, if that's the case, then what would that even look like? It's rather unprecedented. Could it result in a potential coalition government?" said AOC in an interview with MSNBC. "It's about the cards that are in McCarthy's hands. And if he chooses to approach the Democratic Caucus, then that would be a negotiation, in and of itself, for a potential coalition government. But, again, this is very much an unprecedented time." Read more: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggests McCarthy open negotiations with the Democrats for House speaker votes AOC's sentiments were echoed by California Democrat leader Ami Bera who said he may consider backing a 'unity candidate'. "The Republicans need to fast forward this process to pick a candidate so we can get on with doing the people’s business. I would support a unity candidate if that's what it takes, because we need a Speaker of the House." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US House adjourned as Republican speaker nominee Kevin McCarthy loses sixth ballot

The newly-elected US house of representatives have so far failed to elect their speaker even after six rounds of voting in the last two days. The voting will now take place when the house convenes next.

WION Dispatch: Kevin McCarthy fails to gains 218 votes

The infighting in the Republican camp has stalled the coronation of Kevin McCarthy as the speaker of the House of Representatives. McCarthy on Tuesday became the only political leader in a century - the first since the Civil War to lose the opening three rounds of the ballot to become the House speaker.

The infighting in the Republican camp has stalled the coronation of Kevin McCarthy as the speaker of the House of Representatives. McCarthy on Tuesday became the only political leader in a century - the first since the Civil War to lose the opening three rounds of the ballot to become the House speaker. After far-right Republican rebel colleagues pulled their vote, a chaotic House was forced to adjourn without electing a speaker. McCarthy needed to win 218 votes of the full House to become the speaker and replace former Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi. However, with Republicans gaining a razor-thin 222-212 majority in the House after the November midterm elections, the refusal of the Republican leaders to vote for McCarthy has caused the logjam. The situation is unlikely to resolve unless Democrats vote for him which appears to be a foregone conclusion. Read more: Explained: Will the US House of Representatives have a speaker when it convenes? After the first round of voting, McCarthy only had 203 votes while Democrat Hakim Jeffries amassed 212 votes. Meanwhile, Andy Biggs managed to secure 10 votes and nine lawmakers did not support any of the three candidates. The trend continued in the next two ballots where McCarthy received as many as 20 no-votes from his own side. The likes of Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, and Matt Gaetz have been the loud voices objecting to McCarthy's endorsement as the Republican nominee since November. “It’s true we struggle with trust with Mr. McCarthy because time and again his viewpoints, his positions, they shift like sands underneath you. If you want to drain the swamp, you cannot put the biggest alligator in charge of the exercise," Gaetz had remarked ahead of the voting. WATCH | Kevin McCarthy struggles to clinch support to be U.S. House speaker amid hardline opposition × The party's conservative wing has made it clear that it will not vote for McCarthy and that the second ballot will show support for the 'true' leader. “I think you’ll see on the second ballot an increasing number of members vote for a true candidate who can represent the conservative center of the conference, can motivate the base," Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, one of McCarthy's fiercest rivals was quoted as saying by Fox. McCarthy had previously stood for the position in 2015 but had to withdraw following some confusion. He became House minority leader after the 2018 midterms after Republicans lost control of the House. Read more: Kevin McCarthy is Republican nominee for House speaker (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kevin McCarthy becomes the first person to lose three rounds of House speaker voting in a century

Leadership of the House of Representatives remains in limbo as Kevin McCarthy faces internal opposition to his bid for speaker. WION tells you more in this report.

U.S. House Speaker Voting: No majority for republican speaker candidate Kevin McCarthy

Former United States President Donald Trump has urged far-right Republicans to support Kevin McCarthy in the election to become the US House speaker. McCarthy failed to win the poll despite the Republicans controlling the House – something that has not happened in more than 100 years.

The Republicans won control of the US House in the midterm elections but McCarthy’s candidacy as the speaker was challenged by certain parts of the party. &nbsp;"It's now time for all of our great Republican House Members to vote for Kevin, close the deal and take victory," Trump posted on social media. "Republicans, do not turn a great triumph into a giant and embarrassing defeat."

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With a 222-212 majority in the US House, the Republican Party had the number needed to elect McCarthy as the speaker. However, he was unable to secure the 218 votes needed for the win.

During the first two rounds of voting, 19 members from the Republican Party voted against him and the number went up to 20 in the third round. Most of the rebels were previous supporters of Trump.

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McCarthy has been blamed in the past for being loyal to Trump and he has already asked for investigations of Biden's family as well as the government. However, during the voting, he received less votes than Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries but both failed to hit the majority mark.

The last time that the election for House speaker went to the second round was back in 1923.

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Former United States President Donald Trump has urged far-right Republicans to support Kevin McCarthy in the election to become the US House speaker. McCarthy failed to win the poll despite the Republicans controlling the House – something that has not happened in more than 100 years.

Former United States President Donald Trump has urged far-right Republicans to support Kevin McCarthy in the election to become the US House speaker. McCarthy failed to win the poll despite the Republicans controlling the House – something that has not happened in more than 100 years. The Republicans won control of the US House in the midterm elections but McCarthy’s candidacy as the speaker was challenged by certain parts of the party. "It's now time for all of our great Republican House Members to vote for Kevin, close the deal and take victory," Trump posted on social media. "Republicans, do not turn a great triumph into a giant and embarrassing defeat." Also read | Omicron offshoot XBB.1.5 may cause new Covid spike in the US, confirms CDC With a 222-212 majority in the US House, the Republican Party had the number needed to elect McCarthy as the speaker. However, he was unable to secure the 218 votes needed for the win. During the first two rounds of voting, 19 members from the Republican Party voted against him and the number went up to 20 in the third round. Most of the rebels were previous supporters of Trump. Also read | Rishi Sunak plans to make maths mandatory for all students till the age of 18 McCarthy has been blamed in the past for being loyal to Trump and he has already asked for investigations of Biden's family as well as the government. However, during the voting, he received less votes than Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries but both failed to hit the majority mark. The last time that the election for House speaker went to the second round was back in 1923.

Trump urges Republicans to back McCarthy in race to become US House speaker

In the weeks leading up to the 118th session of the United States Congress, which is set to convene on Tuesday (December 3) at noon (local time), the attention has been focused on Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy whose bid to become the speaker of the House of Representatives has been uncertain at best.&nbsp;

Notably, this is not the first time that the California lawmaker has sought to lead the 435-member House. In 2015, he faced similar opposition from a small section of the Republican party (GOP) after he entered the race when House Speaker John Boehner, (R-Ohio) resigned.&nbsp;

Last year, following the midterm elections the GOP, took over the House with a narrow majority of 222-213 from the Democrats and the outgoing speaker Nancy Pelosi. However, given the opposition against McCarthy so far, from people of his own caucus, Tuesday might become the first time ever in nearly 100 years that a majority is garnered to elect a speaker of the chamber. &nbsp;

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Importance of a House speaker

The role of a speaker is critical for the government in Washington to function since not only will the lawmaker preside over the lower chamber of Congress they would also be next in line for the presidency. Typically, a speaker is elected at the beginning of a new Congress, however, the House can elect a new one if the incumbent dies, resigns or is removed from office, said a report by Associated Press. &nbsp;

Additionally, the chamber cannot be organised until a speaker who is to preside over it is chosen, therefore, the vote to choose a speaker will be the first one taken once the lawmakers convene for the session on January 3 even before the new and returning members of both parties are sworn in.&nbsp;

The speaker has “massive influence over what sorts of bills and amendments get voted on in Congress”, said Christian Fong, a political science professor at the University of Michigan, to Al Jazeera. He added that this also gives them a significant amount of control over what becomes a law in the upcoming session.&nbsp;

Who will lead the house from both parties in the upcoming session?

After the midterm elections, both the GOP conference and Democratic caucus held an informal vote where they selected the lawmaker they want to lead their party for the upcoming session. Therefore, by mid-November, following a close-door vote with Republicans, McCarthy emerged as the leader of the House for his party. Subsequently, by the end of the month, Democrats chose Representative Hakeem Jeffries from New York to lead the party in the House. &nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-midterms-republicans-win-the-us-house-kevin-mccarthy-to-become-the-house-speaker-535052">US Midterms: Republicans win the U.S. House; Kevin McCarthy to become the House Speaker</a>

How does the voting take place?

Once the House has the minimum number of members present to proceed or quorum, leaders of the house will read out the names of the speaker nominee from their respective party before the roll call vote for the election. Subsequently, the clerk appoints lawmakers from each party as tellers to tally the votes.&nbsp;

Notably, once the Congress begins on January 3, the members are not obligated to vote for the party’s chosen candidate, in fact, while the person typically is a member of the House it is not required. Therefore, any lawmaker including the incumbent President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and Senators, can be nominated and have previously received votes for speaker’s office, in the past, but not gained the majority, reported AP.&nbsp;

This is because lawmakers in the House call out the name of their choice from the floor in a time-consuming roll call. So far, the number to reach a majority in the 435-member chamber has been 218 votes, however, many speakers including the outgoing speaker Pelosi have taken the gavel with less than that. &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-slams-kevin-mccarthy-for-saying-he-would-hit-nancy-pelosi-with-gavel-402272">Twitter slams Kevin McCarthy for saying he would hit Nancy Pelosi with gavel</a>

This is because some members vote present instead of calling out a name, therefore, according to AP, every lawmaker that votes “present” lowers the total tally needed to reach a majority. In case a majority is not reached on the first ballot, as many have speculated would happen in McCarthy’s case, the clerk will repeat the roll call vote several times until a majority is garnered.&nbsp;

The passing of the gavel

Once the speaker nominee has won a majority of the vote the clear announces the results. Subsequently, a bipartisan committee typically one consisting of the members of the candidate’s home state escorts the speaker-elect to the dais for the oath-taking ceremony, where the outgoing speaker, in this case, speaker and California Democrat Pelosi, joins their successor and passes the gavel in a peaceful transition of power.&nbsp;

Why do many people McCarthy would not be able to garner a majority to become the speaker?

The last time a speaker for the House of Representatives was not elected in the first round of votes was exactly a century ago in 1923 when a speaker was selected after nearly nine rounds of voting. “It’s a very thin (GOP majority), so it only takes a small group of determined representatives to really get together and pose a credible threat to prevent the Speaker from being elected”, said Fong to Al Jazeera. The professor also spoke about how despite growing bipartisan opposition to the power of the Speaker, the path to the gavel will be particularly difficult for McCarthy.&nbsp;

The situation that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Republican lawmaker faces&nbsp;is not entirely unique, as&nbsp;the outgoing speaker Pelosi who held the position for nearly four years witnessed similar internal opposition during her reelection in 2021. However,&nbsp;despite protests from five members of her caucus she managed to retain her position with&nbsp;Dems'&nbsp;slim majority in the chamber, at the time.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kevin-mccarthy-struggles-to-clinch-support-to-be-us-house-speaker-amid-hardline-opposition-549139">Kevin McCarthy struggles to clinch support to be U.S. House speaker amid hardline opposition</a> 
 
According to Fong, Republicans who are opposing McCarthy’s bid for the gavel&nbsp;are from the so-called “safe-districts”, where they did not face much competition in the elections&nbsp;or had trouble raising funds due to their strong political base. Therefore, they do not value the power a speaker holds over what would otherwise be “valuable resources” for the House members which include committee assignments and campaign funding.&nbsp;

Additionally, the California Republican faces a number of critics who want change in the way the House operates and have long complained that the structure gives too much power to leaders and argued for changes which would make small groups of dissenters obstruct and change legislation, reported the New York Times.&nbsp;

McCarthy currently faces at least a dozen lawmakers who would choose anyone else but him which has left him scrambling for votes at the last minute&nbsp;and negotiating with the opposing lawmakers on concessions which may dilute his powers, should he take the office of the speaker,&nbsp;in the upcoming session. This mix also includes&nbsp;a group of newly elected lawmakers who are still weighing their options, said the NYT.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-banned-from-all-us-house-of-representatives-managed-devices-547210">TikTok banned from all US House of Representatives-managed devices</a> 
&nbsp;

What will happen if McCarthy fails?

As mentioned earlier, the speaker is an important part of not only the House but also the functioning of the US government, therefore with&nbsp;no one to preside over the chamber, it cannot fully form, name its committee chairmen, or even hold floor proceedings. In one word, chaos,&nbsp;"One thing to stress about this whole process, nothing else happens in the House of Representatives until a speaker is elected. It's the only leadership position specifically mentioned in the Constitution," said NPR's&nbsp;congressional correspondent, Deirdre Walsh.

She added, "Members of Congress cannot even be sworn in to start a new session of Congress without a speaker first being elected. So opening day could be very chaotic."&nbsp;

Additionally, the GOP is holding on to a majority in the lower chamber by just a couple of&nbsp;votes which&nbsp;makes McCarthy’s bid to become the next speaker all the more critical given that members with outsized power can threaten to effectively dilute if not wipe out the&nbsp;power Republicans would otherwise enjoy as a majority in the chamber,&nbsp;affecting potentially every upcoming legislation the dissenters&nbsp;they do not get their way.&nbsp;

“One reason why you don’t see more opposition to the Speaker in the modern era is that the Speaker controls all kinds of valuable resources that members of the House of Representatives really want,” said Fong to Al Jazeera.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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In the weeks leading up to the 118th session of the United States Congress, which is set to convene on Tuesday (December 3) at noon (local time), the attention has been focused on Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy whose bid to become the speaker of the House of Representatives has been uncertain at best.

In the weeks leading up to the 118th session of the United States Congress, which is set to convene on Tuesday (December 3) at noon (local time), the attention has been focused on Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy whose bid to become the speaker of the House of Representatives has been uncertain at best. Notably, this is not the first time that the California lawmaker has sought to lead the 435-member House. In 2015, he faced similar opposition from a small section of the Republican party (GOP) after he entered the race when House Speaker John Boehner, (R-Ohio) resigned. Last year, following the midterm elections the GOP, took over the House with a narrow majority of 222-213 from the Democrats and the outgoing speaker Nancy Pelosi. However, given the opposition against McCarthy so far, from people of his own caucus, Tuesday might become the first time ever in nearly 100 years that a majority is garnered to elect a speaker of the chamber. ALSO READ | US, South Korea plan 'coordinated response' against North Korea's nuclear threat Importance of a House speaker The role of a speaker is critical for the government in Washington to function since not only will the lawmaker preside over the lower chamber of Congress they would also be next in line for the presidency. Typically, a speaker is elected at the beginning of a new Congress, however, the House can elect a new one if the incumbent dies, resigns or is removed from office, said a report by Associated Press. Additionally, the chamber cannot be organised until a speaker who is to preside over it is chosen, therefore, the vote to choose a speaker will be the first one taken once the lawmakers convene for the session on January 3 even before the new and returning members of both parties are sworn in. The speaker has “massive influence over what sorts of bills and amendments get voted on in Congress”, said Christian Fong, a political science professor at the University of Michigan, to Al Jazeera. He added that this also gives them a significant amount of control over what becomes a law in the upcoming session. Who will lead the house from both parties in the upcoming session? After the midterm elections, both the GOP conference and Democratic caucus held an informal vote where they selected the lawmaker they want to lead their party for the upcoming session. Therefore, by mid-November, following a close-door vote with Republicans, McCarthy emerged as the leader of the House for his party. Subsequently, by the end of the month, Democrats chose Representative Hakeem Jeffries from New York to lead the party in the House. ALSO WATCH | US Midterms: Republicans win the U.S. House; Kevin McCarthy to become the House Speaker How does the voting take place? Once the House has the minimum number of members present to proceed or quorum, leaders of the house will read out the names of the speaker nominee from their respective party before the roll call vote for the election. Subsequently, the clerk appoints lawmakers from each party as tellers to tally the votes. Notably, once the Congress begins on January 3, the members are not obligated to vote for the party’s chosen candidate, in fact, while the person typically is a member of the House it is not required. Therefore, any lawmaker including the incumbent President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and Senators, can be nominated and have previously received votes for speaker’s office, in the past, but not gained the majority, reported AP. This is because lawmakers in the House call out the name of their choice from the floor in a time-consuming roll call. So far, the number to reach a majority in the 435-member chamber has been 218 votes, however, many speakers including the outgoing speaker Pelosi have taken the gavel with less than that. ALSO READ | Twitter slams Kevin McCarthy for saying he would hit Nancy Pelosi with gavel This is because some members vote present instead of calling out a name, therefore, according to AP, every lawmaker that votes “present” lowers the total tally needed to reach a majority. In case a majority is not reached on the first ballot, as many have speculated would happen in McCarthy’s case, the clerk will repeat the roll call vote several times until a majority is garnered. The passing of the gavel Once the speaker nominee has won a majority of the vote the clear announces the results. Subsequently, a bipartisan committee typically one consisting of the members of the candidate’s home state escorts the speaker-elect to the dais for the oath-taking ceremony, where the outgoing speaker, in this case, speaker and California Democrat Pelosi, joins their successor and passes the gavel in a peaceful transition of power. Why do many people McCarthy would not be able to garner a majority to become the speaker? The last time a speaker for the House of Representatives was not elected in the first round of votes was exactly a century ago in 1923 when a speaker was selected after nearly nine rounds of voting. “It’s a very thin (GOP majority), so it only takes a small group of determined representatives to really get together and pose a credible threat to prevent the Speaker from being elected”, said Fong to Al Jazeera. The professor also spoke about how despite growing bipartisan opposition to the power of the Speaker, the path to the gavel will be particularly difficult for McCarthy. The situation that the Republican lawmaker faces is not entirely unique, as the outgoing speaker Pelosi who held the position for nearly four years witnessed similar internal opposition during her reelection in 2021. However, despite protests from five members of her caucus she managed to retain her position with Dems' slim majority in the chamber, at the time. ALSO WATCH | Kevin McCarthy struggles to clinch support to be U.S. House speaker amid hardline opposition According to Fong, Republicans who are opposing McCarthy’s bid for the gavel are from the so-called “safe-districts”, where they did not face much competition in the elections or had trouble raising funds due to their strong political base. Therefore, they do not value the power a speaker holds over what would otherwise be “valuable resources” for the House members which include committee assignments and campaign funding. Additionally, the California Republican faces a number of critics who want change in the way the House operates and have long complained that the structure gives too much power to leaders and argued for changes which would make small groups of dissenters obstruct and change legislation, reported the New York Times. McCarthy currently faces at least a dozen lawmakers who would choose anyone else but him which has left him scrambling for votes at the last minute and negotiating with the opposing lawmakers on concessions which may dilute his powers, should he take the office of the speaker, in the upcoming session. This mix also includes a group of newly elected lawmakers who are still weighing their options, said the NYT. ALSO READ | TikTok banned from all US House of Representatives-managed devices What will happen if McCarthy fails? As mentioned earlier, the speaker is an important part of not only the House but also the functioning of the US government, therefore with no one to preside over the chamber, it cannot fully form, name its committee chairmen, or even hold floor proceedings. In one word, chaos, "One thing to stress about this whole process, nothing else happens in the House of Representatives until a speaker is elected. It's the only leadership position specifically mentioned in the Constitution," said NPR's congressional correspondent, Deirdre Walsh. She added, "Members of Congress cannot even be sworn in to start a new session of Congress without a speaker first being elected. So opening day could be very chaotic." Additionally, the GOP is holding on to a majority in the lower chamber by just a couple of votes which makes McCarthy’s bid to become the next speaker all the more critical given that members with outsized power can threaten to effectively dilute if not wipe out the power Republicans would otherwise enjoy as a majority in the chamber, affecting potentially every upcoming legislation the dissenters they do not get their way. “One reason why you don’t see more opposition to the Speaker in the modern era is that the Speaker controls all kinds of valuable resources that members of the House of Representatives really want,” said Fong to Al Jazeera. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Will the US House of Representatives have a speaker when it convenes?

U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthy is still struggling to clinch the necessary support to become the next speaker, less than a day before the new Congress convenes.

Kevin McCarthy struggles to clinch support to be U.S. House speaker amid hardline opposition

The top two Republicans broke&nbsp;the silence about former United States president Donald Trump’s dinner with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and musician Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) who has recently come under fire for his anti-semitic remarks.

On Tuesday, Senate minority leader and Republican Mitch McConnell&nbsp;during his weekly address told reporters, “There is no room in the Republican party for antisemitism or white supremacy and anyone meeting with people advocating that point of view, in my judgment, are highly unlikely to ever be elected president of the United States.”&nbsp;

This comes after Trump announced his bid to run for the presidential election in 2024, however, the former president is yet to win the Republican nomination.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/he-should-definitely-not-trump-about-kanyes-potential-run-at-us-presidency-refuses-to-be-his-running-mate-537602">'He should definitely not': Trump on Kanye's potential run at US presidency; refuses to be his running mate</a>

When asked if he would support Trump should he become the party’s 2024 nominee, the senate minority leader repeated, “There is simply no room in the Republican Party for antisemitism or white supremacy…That would apply to all of the leaders in the party who will be seeking offices.” Notably, while Trump was not mentioned by name in McConnell’s remarks, this indicates a shift in the GOP.&nbsp;

House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, on Tuesday, said, “I don’t think anybody should have a meeting with Nick Fuentes, and his views are nowhere within the Republican Party or within this country itself.”&nbsp;He added that Trump should also not associate with Ye. These remarks were made following his meeting with incumbent President Biden in Washington. &nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/all-you-need-to-know-about-trumps-explosive-dinner-with-ye-and-nick-fuentes-538692">All you need to know about Trump’s explosive dinner with Ye and Nick Fuentes</a>

Meanwhile, former vice president Mike Pence called for Trump to apologise for meeting with Fuentes.&nbsp;“President Trump was wrong to give a white nationalist, an antisemite and Holocaust denier a seat at the table, and I think he should apologise for it,” Pence said during an interview with NewsNation. He added that the former president should “denounce those individuals and their hateful rhetoric without qualification”.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/journalist-ray-locker-assess-trumps-mar-a-lago-dinner-with-ye-and-nick-fuentes-538696">Journalist Ray Locker assess Trump's Mar-a-Lago dinner with Ye and Nick Fuentes</a>

Last week, Trump hosted, Fuentes who has been described as a white supremacist by the US Department of Justice and Ye who has drawn criticism for anti-semitic comments, at Mar-a-Lago. Subsequently, on Friday, amid mounting criticism,&nbsp;the former president claimed that he “knew nothing” about Fuentes and that he “unexpectedly” showed up at the dinner with Ye.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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The top two Republicans broke the silence about former United States president Donald Trump’s dinner with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and musician Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) who has recently come under fire for his anti-semitic remarks.

The top two Republicans broke the silence about former United States president Donald Trump’s dinner with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and musician Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) who has recently come under fire for his anti-semitic remarks. On Tuesday, Senate minority leader and Republican Mitch McConnell during his weekly address told reporters, “There is no room in the Republican party for antisemitism or white supremacy and anyone meeting with people advocating that point of view, in my judgment, are highly unlikely to ever be elected president of the United States.” This comes after Trump announced his bid to run for the presidential election in 2024, however, the former president is yet to win the Republican nomination. ALSO READ | 'He should definitely not': Trump on Kanye's potential run at US presidency; refuses to be his running mate When asked if he would support Trump should he become the party’s 2024 nominee, the senate minority leader repeated, “There is simply no room in the Republican Party for antisemitism or white supremacy…That would apply to all of the leaders in the party who will be seeking offices.” Notably, while Trump was not mentioned by name in McConnell’s remarks, this indicates a shift in the GOP. House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, on Tuesday, said, “I don’t think anybody should have a meeting with Nick Fuentes, and his views are nowhere within the Republican Party or within this country itself.” He added that Trump should also not associate with Ye. These remarks were made following his meeting with incumbent President Biden in Washington. ALSO WATCH | All you need to know about Trump’s explosive dinner with Ye and Nick Fuentes Meanwhile, former vice president Mike Pence called for Trump to apologise for meeting with Fuentes. “President Trump was wrong to give a white nationalist, an antisemite and Holocaust denier a seat at the table, and I think he should apologise for it,” Pence said during an interview with NewsNation. He added that the former president should “denounce those individuals and their hateful rhetoric without qualification”. ALSO WATCH | Journalist Ray Locker assess Trump's Mar-a-Lago dinner with Ye and Nick Fuentes Last week, Trump hosted, Fuentes who has been described as a white supremacist by the US Department of Justice and Ye who has drawn criticism for anti-semitic comments, at Mar-a-Lago. Subsequently, on Friday, amid mounting criticism, the former president claimed that he “knew nothing” about Fuentes and that he “unexpectedly” showed up at the dinner with Ye. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Republican leaders criticise Trump’s Mar-a-Lago dinner with Fuentes and Kanye

Over a week after Midterm elections, the Republicans have managed to take control of the house, one more seat was procured by the GOP and according to the US media projections, the Republicans are now in control of 218 seats and that is the exact majority needed to head the house.

US Midterm Elections: Kevin McCarthy to become house speaker

Over a week after the Midterm elections, the Republicans have managed to take control of the house. Kevin McCarthy is set to become the House Speaker. But what it means for the abortion & arms Act? Watch here.

Republicans winning House, what it means for the abortion & arms Act?

Over a week after Midterm elections, the Republicans have managed to take control of the house. Kevin McCarthy is set to become the House Speaker.

US Midterms: Republicans win the U.S. House; Kevin McCarthy to become the House Speaker

With Republicans all set to regain control of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy has been nominated by the party to be speaker in the new Congress. He secured 188 votes &nbsp;in a closed-door vote held on Tuesday. &nbsp;"House Republicans have elected Kevin McCarthy as our nominee for speaker for the 118th Congress," House Republicans said via Twitter.

"The era of one-party Democrat rule is over," the 57-year-old congressman from California, a senior member of House Republican leadership since 2014, said.

He left behind Andy Biggs, a member of the influential far-right Freedom Caucus, in the race. However, potential far-right defections might make the road treacherous for McCarthy when the full chamber votes in January. The party's conservative wing has already made clear it will set conditions before supporting McCarthy.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterm-elections-2022-explainer-guide-what-the-fuss-is-all-about-532208">US Midterm Elections 2022 explainer guide: What the fuss is all about</a>

He needs to win a majority vote, that is 218 votes, of the full House in January to become speaker. He will replace Democrat Nancy Pelosi.&nbsp;

McCarthy had officially declared his candidacy last week in a letter to House Republicans. He had previously stood for the position in 2015, but had to withdraw following some confusion. He became House minority leader after the 2018 midterms after Republicans lost control of the House.&nbsp;

McCarthy also reportedly had a heated phone call with Trump during the January 6 Capitol riots and asked him to tell protesters to go home. He later visited Trump his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida to mend things with the former president.

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&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Democrats have managed to hold on to the Senate after the midterm elections. But even though the Republicans look on course to win the House, with votes still being counted, their majority in the 118th Congress is expected to be extremely thin.

The floor vote will take place on January 3, when the House of Representatives' 435 newly elected members will choose their speaker.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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With Republicans all set to regain control of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy has been nominated by the party to be speaker in the new Congress. He secured 188 votes in a closed-door vote held on Tuesday.

With Republicans all set to regain control of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy has been nominated by the party to be speaker in the new Congress. He secured 188 votes in a closed-door vote held on Tuesday. "House Republicans have elected Kevin McCarthy as our nominee for speaker for the 118th Congress," House Republicans said via Twitter. "The era of one-party Democrat rule is over," the 57-year-old congressman from California, a senior member of House Republican leadership since 2014, said. He left behind Andy Biggs, a member of the influential far-right Freedom Caucus, in the race. However, potential far-right defections might make the road treacherous for McCarthy when the full chamber votes in January. The party's conservative wing has already made clear it will set conditions before supporting McCarthy. Also Read | US Midterm Elections 2022 explainer guide: What the fuss is all about He needs to win a majority vote, that is 218 votes, of the full House in January to become speaker. He will replace Democrat Nancy Pelosi. McCarthy had officially declared his candidacy last week in a letter to House Republicans. He had previously stood for the position in 2015, but had to withdraw following some confusion. He became House minority leader after the 2018 midterms after Republicans lost control of the House. McCarthy also reportedly had a heated phone call with Trump during the January 6 Capitol riots and asked him to tell protesters to go home. He later visited Trump his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida to mend things with the former president. × Meanwhile, Democrats have managed to hold on to the Senate after the midterm elections. But even though the Republicans look on course to win the House, with votes still being counted, their majority in the 118th Congress is expected to be extremely thin. The floor vote will take place on January 3, when the House of Representatives' 435 newly elected members will choose their speaker. (With inputs from agencies)

Kevin McCarthy is Republican nominee for House speaker

Ahead of the vote for a new speaker on January 3, Kevin McCarthy has become the Republicans' speaker nominee. McCarthy said that one-party democrat rule is over.

Kevin McCarthy is Republicans' speaker nominee: 'Washington now has a check and balance'

Kevin McCarthy has been chosen as the Republican leader in the US House of Representatives effectively putting him in prime position to become speaker if his party reclaims control of the house as expected. A senior member of the House Republican leadership since 2014, McCarthy was elected by a secret ballot.

US: Republicans choose Kevin McCarthy as party leader in house

As the investigation into US Capitol Riots continues, Kevin McCarthy's explosive audio clip recorded in the aftermath of US Capitol Riots has come to light and put him in a tough spot. McCarthy can be heard discussing efforts to make Donald Trump resign

US Capitol Riots: Kevin McCarthy's audio clip in aftermath of riots puts him in a tough spot

US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has said that his fellow Republican and congressman Madison Cawthorn will not face disciplinary action for his controversial comments about claiming to be invited by Washington colleagues to orgies and witnessing some leaders using cocaine.

Cawthorn, who has been described as a controversialist and Trump supporter, said on a podcast on Friday that he had witnessed "sexual perversion" and illegal drug use in Washington.

"I look at a lot of these people, a lot of them that I've looked up to through my life — I've always paid attention to politics— guys, that, then all of a sudden you get invited to, 'Oh, hey, we're going to have a sexual get-together at one of our homes, you should come," Cawthorn told Warrior Poet Society,"&nbsp;when asked about how realistic Netflix's "House of Cards" is compared to real life in Washington.

Many GOP colleagues were frustrated with Cawthorn’s “unfounded” claims and asked McCarthy to take action against the North Carolina's representative.

“He’s got to turn himself around,” McCarthy told reporters on Wednesday, addressing a meeting he had with Cawthorn that morning.

“I just told him he’s lost my trust, he’s gonna have to earn it back, and I laid out everything I find is unbecoming. And you can’t just say, ‘You can’t do this again.’ I mean, he’s got a lot of members very upset.”

Asked if Cawthorn, 26, could face penalties from the House Republican conference such as being removed from his committee posts, McCarthy said that there are “a lot of different things that could happen.”

McCarthy met Cawthorn with the Republican chief whip, Steve Scalise, in attendance.

According to the minority leader, Cawthorn admitted some of his remarks had been untrue or exaggerated.

“In the interview, he claims he watched people do cocaine. Then when he comes in, he says he thinks he saw maybe a staffer in a parking garage from 100 yards away.”

“It’s just frustrating. There’s no evidence behind his statements … I told him you can’t make statements like that, as a member of Congress, that affect everybody else and the country as a whole.”

The Republican leader mentioned a number of other recent statements and actions from Cawthorn that he found unbecoming of a member of Congress.

Earlier this month, Cawthorn called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “thug,” which McCarthy had&nbsp;previously said was “wrong.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has said that his fellow Republican and congressman Madison Cawthorn will not face disciplinary action for his controversial comments about claiming to be invited by Washington colleagues to orgies and witnessing some leaders using cocaine.

US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has said that his fellow Republican and congressman Madison Cawthorn will not face disciplinary action for his controversial comments about claiming to be invited by Washington colleagues to orgies and witnessing some leaders using cocaine. Cawthorn, who has been described as a controversialist and Trump supporter, said on a podcast on Friday that he had witnessed "sexual perversion" and illegal drug use in Washington. "I look at a lot of these people, a lot of them that I've looked up to through my life — I've always paid attention to politics— guys, that, then all of a sudden you get invited to, 'Oh, hey, we're going to have a sexual get-together at one of our homes, you should come," Cawthorn told Warrior Poet Society," when asked about how realistic Netflix's "House of Cards" is compared to real life in Washington. Many GOP colleagues were frustrated with Cawthorn’s “unfounded” claims and asked McCarthy to take action against the North Carolina's representative. “He’s got to turn himself around,” McCarthy told reporters on Wednesday, addressing a meeting he had with Cawthorn that morning. “I just told him he’s lost my trust, he’s gonna have to earn it back, and I laid out everything I find is unbecoming. And you can’t just say, ‘You can’t do this again.’ I mean, he’s got a lot of members very upset.” Asked if Cawthorn, 26, could face penalties from the House Republican conference such as being removed from his committee posts, McCarthy said that there are “a lot of different things that could happen.” McCarthy met Cawthorn with the Republican chief whip, Steve Scalise, in attendance. According to the minority leader, Cawthorn admitted some of his remarks had been untrue or exaggerated. “In the interview, he claims he watched people do cocaine. Then when he comes in, he says he thinks he saw maybe a staffer in a parking garage from 100 yards away.” “It’s just frustrating. There’s no evidence behind his statements … I told him you can’t make statements like that, as a member of Congress, that affect everybody else and the country as a whole.” The Republican leader mentioned a number of other recent statements and actions from Cawthorn that he found unbecoming of a member of Congress. Earlier this month, Cawthorn called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “thug,” which McCarthy had previously said was “wrong.” (With inputs from agencies)

US congressman Cawthorn not to face charges for remarks on orgies and drugs

A top Republican leader has been criticised for hinting that he would hit the speaker Nancy Pelosi in the head with a gavel.

Republican minority leader Kevin McCarthy got into a verbal spat after Pelosi called McCarthy a “moron” after he opposed mask mandates to stop the widespread coronavirus pandemic.

After that, at a fundraising dinner on Saturday night, McCarthy showed a positive attitude that his party will be taking control of the House in mid-term elections next year.

However, he didn’t just stop at that. He proceeded to ‘joke’ that if he becomes a speaker, it would be difficult to control his urge to hit Pelosi on the head with the gavel.

"It will be hard not to hit her with it but I will bang it down,"&nbsp;McCarthy was quoted by a Washington Post reporter.

This comment by McCarthy angered several people on Twitter who did not appreciate his statement that adds oil to the fire of violence against women.

"Don’t you think America has had enough political violence? You should never be encouraging or threatening or joking about causing violence to anyone, including the Speaker of the House. You need to apologize for your statement, or resign,"&nbsp;tweeted Ted Lieu, member of Congress.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dear <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPLeader?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPLeader</a> McCarthy: Don’t you think America has had enough political violence? You should never be encouraging or threatening or joking about causing violence to anyone, including the Speaker of the House. You need to apologize for your statement, or resign. <a href="https://t.co/jdP2bcmr5c">https://t.co/jdP2bcmr5c</a>
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/1421665150336081924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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It’s really disgusting that no Republican has the testicular fortitude to condemn Kevin McCarthy’s joke of violent attacks on Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidmweissman/status/1421664886510268422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
America has suffered enough violence around politics. <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPLeader?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPLeader</a> McCarthy is now a would-be assailant of <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerPelosi</a>. He needs to resign. <a href="https://t.co/6wvdwlG75Y">https://t.co/6wvdwlG75Y</a>
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1421646883710193669?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Who else thinks Kevin McCarthy must resign for “joking” about assaulting Speaker Pelosi?
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) <a href="https://twitter.com/funder/status/1421820845807345664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

A top Republican leader has been criticised for hinting that he would hit the speaker Nancy Pelosi in the head with a gavel. Republican minority leader Kevin McCarthy got into a verbal spat after Pelosi called McCarthy a “moron” after he opposed mask mandates to stop the widespread coronavirus pandemic.

A top Republican leader has been criticised for hinting that he would hit the speaker Nancy Pelosi in the head with a gavel. Republican minority leader Kevin McCarthy got into a verbal spat after Pelosi called McCarthy a “moron” after he opposed mask mandates to stop the widespread coronavirus pandemic. After that, at a fundraising dinner on Saturday night, McCarthy showed a positive attitude that his party will be taking control of the House in mid-term elections next year. However, he didn’t just stop at that. He proceeded to ‘joke’ that if he becomes a speaker, it would be difficult to control his urge to hit Pelosi on the head with the gavel. "It will be hard not to hit her with it but I will bang it down," McCarthy was quoted by a Washington Post reporter. This comment by McCarthy angered several people on Twitter who did not appreciate his statement that adds oil to the fire of violence against women. "Don’t you think America has had enough political violence? You should never be encouraging or threatening or joking about causing violence to anyone, including the Speaker of the House. You need to apologize for your statement, or resign," tweeted Ted Lieu, member of Congress. Dear @GOPLeader McCarthy: Don’t you think America has had enough political violence? You should never be encouraging or threatening or joking about causing violence to anyone, including the Speaker of the House. You need to apologize for your statement, or resign. https://t.co/jdP2bcmr5c — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 1, 2021 × It’s really disgusting that no Republican has the testicular fortitude to condemn Kevin McCarthy’s joke of violent attacks on Speaker Nancy Pelosi. — David Weissman (@davidmweissman) August 1, 2021 × America has suffered enough violence around politics. @GOPLeader McCarthy is now a would-be assailant of @SpeakerPelosi. He needs to resign. https://t.co/6wvdwlG75Y — Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 1, 2021 × Who else thinks Kevin McCarthy must resign for “joking” about assaulting Speaker Pelosi? — Scott Dworkin (@funder) August 1, 2021 ×

Twitter slams Kevin McCarthy for saying he would hit Nancy Pelosi with gavel

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai has agreed to testify before the US&nbsp;House Judiciary Committee in November, a senior Republican said Friday.

According to news agency Reuters,&nbsp;House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy disclosed that Pichai had agreed to testify and met with Pichai along with other senior Republicans to discuss concerns that the search engine giant is biased against conservatives, which Alphabet Inc's Google unit has repeatedly denied the accusations.

Google came under fire earlier this month for refusing to send a top executive to a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing that included Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc executives.

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai has agreed to testify before the US House Judiciary Committee in November, a senior Republican said Friday. According to news agency Reuters, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy disclosed that Pichai had agreed to testify and met with Pichai along with other senior Republicans to discuss concerns that the search engine giant is biased against conservatives, which Alphabet Inc's Google unit has repeatedly denied the accusations.

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai has agreed to testify before the US House Judiciary Committee in November, a senior Republican said Friday. According to news agency Reuters, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy disclosed that Pichai had agreed to testify and met with Pichai along with other senior Republicans to discuss concerns that the search engine giant is biased against conservatives, which Alphabet Inc's Google unit has repeatedly denied the accusations. Google came under fire earlier this month for refusing to send a top executive to a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing that included Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc executives.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai to testify before US House panel in November

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