Friday morning marked the second anniversary of the Capitol attack, when a mob aligned with Donald Trump harassed lawmakers. A Republican congressman, ex-FBI agent Brian Fitzpatrick, attended a Democrats-organized event honoring victims of political violence and paying tribute to the law enforcement officers who confronted the attackers. Later, at a White House commemoration, President Joe Biden stated: “America is a country of law, not chaos.”
That night, during the ongoing discussion about the election of the House Speaker, observers noted a widening rift within the Republican Party and the sense of isolation felt by Fitzpatrick. Four days of failed votes had heightened tensions and led to a dramatic moment broadcast on television.
The prospect of another confrontation loomed. A Republican congressman, Mike Rogers, was briefly restrained as he moved to intervene, becoming a symbol of internal party discord. The question of whether Kevin McCarthy would secure the speakership remained central as the chamber waited for a resolution.
Frustration
Frustration built as voting stretched on with little progress. Only after tense negotiations and concessions from McCarthy to a handful of the party’s most conservative members did a path toward victory appear possible. By Friday morning, the coalition had narrowed the opposition to six “rebel” votes. The session was suspended to allow more negotiation, and talks continued into the night as support for the fourteen vote grew. McCarthy stated, with confidence, that the votes were there to win.
Yet the plan did not unfold as expected. Four opposition colleagues shifted their stance, with Lauren Boebert moving to present and a last-minute vote from Matt Gaetz altering the dynamic. When Gaetz cast his vote, the momentum shifted in an unexpected way.
The pressure inside the House intensified. McCarthy faced stern exchanges with Gaetz and Boebert, and Rogers publicly urged civility as a chamber populated by a new generation of lawmakers prepared to take office. Democrats watched with a mix of concern and resolve as the process wore on.
Trump is on the line
Minutes stretched into hours as the drama continued. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican frequently linked to the Freedom Caucus and controversial positions, contacted colleagues who had been removed from assigned committees but might be restored if they supported McCarthy. The looming master question was whether Donald Trump would exert influence to sway the final votes. At least one member declined to participate in the discussed arrangement.
The debate over postponing the vote until Monday aimed to give McCarthy more room to negotiate with six opponents. In a sudden shift, Gaetz and Boebert pledged to keep voting, exchanges of red cards followed, and the fifteenth ballot brought a partial reversal as the remaining six Republicans who had opposed McCarthy moved to present.
With 216 votes, the new speaker was finally confirmed just after midnight on Saturday. In his initial address, McCarthy attempted a light touch, joking that the process had been easy. A remark from Democrat Dean Phillips earlier in the day captured the moment: astonishment and relief in the room.