Republican Kevin McCarthy wins US House speaker race after 15 ballots

After the longest speakership election in 160 years, Kevin McCarthy fends off right-wing Republican rebellion to be elected as Washington’s top legislator.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy celebrates after being elected Speaker of the House. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Kevin McCarthy was named as the new speaker of the US House of Representatives on Saturday, ending days of bitter Republican infighting that ground the lower chamber of Congress to a standstill.

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.

But it became the longest speakership election in 160 years as the deeply divided Republicans took 15 rounds of voting over four days to fend off a right-wing, anti-McCarthy rebellion.

The House hasn’t had this many failed votes to decide on a speaker since before the Civil War, when it took 44 attempts.

US Representative Kevin McCarthy speaks to US Representative Matt Gaetz. Picture: AFP

This year’s vote was the first time in 100 years that a speaker didn’t win on the first ballot. Mr McCarthy’s inability to win the speakership ballots froze all House business as members had to sit and listen as the clerk – who is in charge of the House without a speaker – ticked through an alphabetical roll call of lawmakers asking for their votes. Because the speaker’s contest is the first vote members take, they still haven’t been sworn in, meaning they can’t vote or serve on committees. There are also no official House rules.

It’s uncertain whether the House will vote on a rules package tonight, with source revealing it may leave that until Monday.

Mr McCarthy’s concessions, according to people familiar with the matter, hashed out many of the policy fights that lawmakers expect to have this year over the debt ceiling and spending. They include a commitment to voting on specific bills; tying spending cuts to a debt-ceiling increase; and a rules change that makes it easier to oust him as leader. He also agreed to add more members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus to key committees.

Republican French Hill, an ally of Mr McCarthy who has been involved in the negotiations, said lawmakers agreed to have spending cuts tied to any legislation regarding the debt ceiling, which Congress might need to raise later this year to avoid a default on the nation’s debt. Democrats are adamant that they won’t allow Republicans to pressure them into using the debt limit to cut federal programs.

“There will be no clean increase in the debt ceiling,” said Republican Scott Perry, chairman of the Freedom Caucus and a member who changed his vote in favour of Mr McCarthy.

Mike Rogers is restrained after getting into an argument with Matt Gaetz. Pictures: Getty Images via AFP

Part of the agreement calls for the House to pass a resolution outlining how it would balance the federal budget within a decade, said people familiar with the matter. That could involve attempts to raise the eligibility age for such programs as Social Security and Medicare, as well as widespread cuts across other programs. Republicans aren’t likely to back tax increases. In 2032, under current law, federal revenue is expected to be $US6.7 trillion ($9.74 trillion), and federal spending is expected to be $US8.9 trillion, so balancing the budget with spending cuts alone would require eliminating more than $US1 for every $US4 the government is projected to spend.

Other people familiar with the matter said the deal would make it easier to amend legislation and how and when lawmakers vote on spending bills.

Negotiators also agreed to pass a bill that averts a government shutdown if Congress hasn’t passed appropriations bills by the funding deadline through the enactment of a continuing resolution that cuts spending. That legislation would need to be passed by the Senate and signed by President Biden, which is unlikely. Most Republicans are opposed to funding the government using another omnibus spending bill that Congress has passed over the past few years.

Mr Perry has also said limiting earmarks, or funding for specific projects in member’s districts, was being discussed. Many of Mr McCarthy’s detractors were upset that their party voted to allow earmarks back into spending bills after being banned for years.

The 15 GOP votes that switched in Mr McCarthy’s favour Friday afternoon demonstrated his political momentum after days of a stalemate.