McCarthy Elected House Speaker On 15th Ballot
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives has a new Speaker.
Republican leader Kevin McCarthy finally picked up enough support from his own party to become Speaker of the House. After 15 votes — over four days — McCarthy came out on top of a bruising battle early Saturday.
The final vote was 216 votes for McCarthy, 212 votes for Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries with six representatives voting “present.”
McCarthy won the gavel at a cost, having made concessions to a group of hardline conservatives that weaken his power as Speaker.
