On January 7, the US House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress, elected a new speaker. The Republican Kevin McCarthy secured the role with a narrow four‑vote edge. He is 57 years old and has been a prominent figure in California politics for years. The vote marked a rare moment in recent history, as it took 15 ballots to decide the speakership. Historically, such a drawn process has been uncommon in the last century, with notable multi‑ballot races in 1923 and 1859 illustrating how uncommon this situation can be in American politics. McCarthy ended with 216 votes against 212 for his main rival, Democrat Jeffries, and the previous round had produced the same tally for McCarthy. Six members of the House abstained in the final round, which helped tilt the balance toward the Republicans.
The protracted vote followed a November election where Republicans won a slim majority, holding 213 seats to 222 for the Democrats. Over four days and across 15 rounds, Republican lawmakers negotiated to secure McCarthy’s victory. He agreed to various concessions, including calendar control for committee seats, willingness to resign on request from the party, and the formation of a special inquiry into the Capitol attack. Historical context shows this long process for choosing a speaker is unusual in recent decades.
What’s wrong with Trump?
On January 5, prior to the sixth round of voting, former President Donald Trump urged party members to back McCarthy and urged speed in resolving the presidential election process. He urged Republicans not to turn a potential victory into a defeat and suggested that McCarthy could perform well. The push did not prevail. A day earlier, Representative Matt Gaetz proposed Donald Trump as an alternative speaker. Trump, not being a current member of the House, did not have sufficient votes to secure the role, and thus did not become speaker. Trump later shared a satirical image on Truth Social showing President Biden in the speaker’s chair, with Trump present in the frame. In the U.S. hierarchy, the speaker ranks third after the president and vice president. With Trump signaling a run in 2024, presiding over the House would have been a notable shift for his political trajectory.
Who is McCarthy?
Kevin McCarthy was born in Bakersfield, California in 1965, a community his family has called home for four generations. He started a deli business at age 20 to fund his college education, later earning an MBA in 1994. Rather than pursuing private sector growth, he moved into politics as a student intern for Republican Congressman Bill Thomas and eventually joined party leadership. McCarthy joined the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and has sought reelection multiple times. In 2014 he became the Republican leader in the lower chamber. His stated priorities include individual freedom, efficient government, and free markets. He has supported abortion rights in certain contexts and environmental policy advocates have identified him as an adversary in several debates. Traditionally, his allies credit him with blocking large tax increases, curbing runaway government spending, and steering measures aimed at job creation.
In the months leading to the Congressional midterm elections, McCarthy warned that a Republican majority would scrutinize U.S. aid to Ukraine. Early in the year, party figures signaled tighter oversight of such funding. Reports from Bloomberg noted that McCarthy proposed trimming the new defense budget by substantial margins as a bargaining approach, a move that could gain support from across party lines. After his election, McCarthy pledged to tackle wasteful spending and reduce the national debt, while announcing a plan to form a special committee focused on defending U.S. economic interests and addressing global supply chain concerns. Earlier remarks about relations with Beijing have continued to shape the debate on U.S. policy toward China.
What is the world saying about McCarthy?
Even before the vote concluded, President Joe Biden described the prolonged process as an embarrassment for the country. He highlighted concerns about government effectiveness in the world’s leading democracy. After McCarthy’s victory, Biden and his wife offered congratulations and signaled willingness to work with the Republican-led House. Notable voices from the business world, including Elon Musk, endorsed McCarthy’s candidacy. Zelensky expressed congratulations and underscored continued U.S. support for Ukraine. Analysts noted that McCarthy’s ascent may require ongoing compromise within the Republican caucus to manage shifting power dynamics. Some observers warned that a more assertive right wing could shape committee leadership, including spending decisions and defense policy. As a result, experts anticipate that Biden’s legislative agenda could face stronger headwinds, particularly on funding for Ukraine and other priorities.