Florida Representative Matt Gaetz strode into House leader Kevin McCarthy’s office Monday night with a list of demands. Among them: Chair of an important subcommittee on the Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
McCarthy declined the offer. That decision led to a chain of events that pitted Gaetz and McCarthy in public confrontation in the House of Representatives on Friday night. Gaetz, McCarthy’s staunchest opponent, abruptly turned down the final vote California Republicans needed to be speaker — then Gaetz and his last supporters abruptly changed course to allow McCarthy won the speaker’s vote on his 15th try.
Before the final vote, chaos erupted in the House after Gaetz waited until the end of the 14th ballot to cast a “present” vote when McCarthy needed one more “yes” vote. Stunned after believing he had the vote, McCarthy faced his most embarrassing defeat yet. His allies surrounded Gaetz trying to find his way forward. McCarthy quickly created a heated discussion and also began to engage Gaetz.
After McCarthy left Gaetz, looking dejected, House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers moved toward the conversation and charged into Gaetz, having to be restrained by Republican Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina. Rogers, an Alabama Republican who earlier this week warned GOP dissidents they would lose their commission on the committee, told Gaetz he would “end up” for continuing continue to spoil the speaker’s vote.
Nearby, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia was trying to convince Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana, another McCarthy organization, to take her cell phone and talk to former President Donald Trump, who is on the line.
Finally, the secretary of the House of Representatives announced for the 14th time that no one had the vote to be a speaker. Republicans have moved to postpone the session until Monday. As the voting clock ticked down, 218 Republicans voted yes, a majority that would send McCarthy home for the weekend and plunge the House of Representatives into paralysis at the hands of Gaetz and his allies. he.
But with less than a minute to vote, Gaetz headed to the front of the room, grabbing a red index card to change his vote on adjournment. Gaetz walked over to McCarthy and the two exchanged briefly. McCarthy then raised his hand and shouted, “One more time!” as he triumphantly walked to the front of the room to change his vote. It was the GOP leader’s final negotiation, capped off by an emotional rollercoaster ride over the course of four days as he was held hostage by a narrow-minded faction in his conference. Dozens of Republicans followed McCarthy and Gaetz to defeat the moratorium, and McCarthy’s victory was finally within reach.
Read a full timeline of the tumultuous week here:
