Republican Kevin McCarthy was finally elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on the 15th round
He sewed up victory after key Republican rebels such as Matt Gaetz did note vote against him
There was a tense exchange earlier between McCarthy, his deputy, Gaetz and another lawmaker on the House floor after the 14th round
The stalemate meant some of the key functions of the House, like forming committees and swearing in new members, are on hold
The Speaker sets the House agenda and oversees legislative business
The post is second in line to the presidency after the US vice-president
After four days and 15 votes, that ends our live coverage of the election for Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 118th Congress.
It's been a wild ride.
You can follow our wrap of this tumultuous and historic day on Capitol Hill here.
Good night!
"That was easy, huh?" quips the new Speaker to laughter from the chamber.
He thanks House clerk Cheryl Johnson, who effectively ran the lower chamber of Congress over the last four days during 15 gruelling votes.
"My father always told me it's not how you started, it's how you finished," says McCarthy. "And now we need to finish strong for the American people."
McCarthy tells the Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, that their political differences may be passionate but will never be personal.
Democratic President Joe Biden extends pro forma congratulations to the new Republican Speaker.
Republicans have already pledged to launch investigations into Biden, his administration and his family’s business dealings.
But for tonight, at least, it's warm words and offers of co-operation from the White House.
"The American people expect their leaders to govern in a way that puts their needs above all else, and that is what we need to do now," says Biden in a statement.
"As I said after the midterms, I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can and voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well.
"Now that the leadership of the House of Representatives has been decided it is time for that process to begin."
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesRepublicans have finally reached a deal to hand Kevin McCarthy the speakership, but House Democrats have been accusing him of ceding power to an extremist wing of his party.
On Twitter, Rep Eric Swalwell of California wrote: "Two years ago insurrectionists failed to take over the Capitol. Tonight Kevin McCarthy let them take over the Republican Party."
Pennsylvania congressman Brendan Boyle said the deadlocked vote had shown a "completely dysfunctional House GOP majority with an emasculated Speaker".
And Rep Don Beyer of Virginia expressed concern over the angry scenes among Republicans that followed the failed 14th vote.
"Unsettling that this process ends in threats of violence in the House Chamber, on this of all days," he wrote.
"Maybe it didn't determine the outcome, but that is no way to conduct the people's business. A dark and sobering moment will probably be remembered long after this session ends."
Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill
Of 428 votes cast, McCarthy received 216 and the Democrats' Hakeem Jeffries got 212.
House clerk Cheryl Johnson says: "Therefore, the Honorable Kevin McCarthy, having received a majority of votes cast, is duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives."
The Republican side gives him a standing ovation. They chant: "USA! USA!"
Towards the back of the room, however, some of the original holdouts, Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert, did not stand up or clap.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill
The Republican side of the House of Representatives erupts in applause after Montana's Ryan Zinke casts his vote - granting Kevin McCarthy the win he's been awaiting for days.
He's now hugging other representatives and signing autographs - it's the moment he and his allies have been waiting for.
There's a look of relief on his face and that of others down on the House floor. It's been almost exactly 12 and a half hours since proceedings got underway on day four of the impasse.
On the Democrats' side, it's almost completely quiet. None of them are clapping.
There's still some formalities to get through before it's official, but that looks like a wrap.
Montana's Matt Rosendale - who earlier voted for Andy Biggs - did not vote when his name was called.
His name will be called again at the end along with other representatives who didn't cast a vote when called.
If he missed the vote, that will help McCarthy.
As his 14th attempt to gather enough support to secure the speakership failed, Kevin McCarthy approached holdout Matt Gaetz and exchanged terse words with the Florida congressman.
Alabama Congressman Mike Rodgers had to be restrained by colleagues as he confronted Gaetz.
The dramatic moment in Congress annotated
The man who torpedoed McCarthy's earlier vote tonight, Florida's Matt Gaetz, has again voted "present".
Virginia's Bob Good switched his vote from Jim Jordan to "present".
At this rate, McCarthy looks poised to finally emerge victorious.
Image source, Getty ImagesArizona's Eli Crane has voted "present" after voting for Andy Biggs earlier today.
Things seem to be looking up for McCarthy.
After previously voting for Jim Jordan in the 14th round, Arizona's Andy Biggs votes "present".
He was among the last holdouts voting for McCarthy's opponents.
CNN is reporting that Biggs, along with Matt Gaetz, spoken to former President Donald Trump tonight.
As in the 14th vote, Lauren Boebert, another holdout, voted "present".
CNN is reporting that Matt Gaetz has agreed to change his vote and pick Kevin McCarthy in a 15th round of voting.
Sources have told the network that the Florida congressman will finally relent and grant McCarthy the speakership.
CNN says former President Donald Trump called Gaetz and another rebel, Andy Biggs, to vote for McCarthy and "wrap this up tonight".
After the high drama of Matt Gaetz's refusal to vote for Kevin McCarthy, there was a confrontation on the House floor.
Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers had to be restrained and sharp words were exchanged.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesBernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill
The motion to adjourn until Monday has been rejected. Some Republicans seemed to switch their votes to side with the Democrats and keep this going.
In a few minutes, it will be 12 hours since the gavel first sounded on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday.
Kevin McCarthy's Republican allies have been chanting "one more time" on the House Floor.
A long day has gotten even longer.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill
Image source, EPAWhen he came onto the House floor earlier, Kevin McCarthy was the picture of confidence: smiling and joking with his Republican colleagues. He'd made it clear to reporters earlier that he thought this process would end tonight.
That confidence has evaporated into the stuffy air of the House floor.
His smile has been replaced with a scowl - and he and other Republicans are milling about the floor, seemingly in disbelief. Earlier in the day, after all, the momentum seemed to have swung firmly in McCarthy's favour after he managed to flip all but the few last remaining, hardcore holdouts.
In the second-to-last row, a small crowd has again formed around Matt Gaetz, the man who scuppered McCarthy's hopes tonight.
In a few minutes, the clerk will begin counting the "yays" and "nays" on the motion to adjourn until Monday.
Patrick McHenry, who nominated McCarthy, motions the House to adjourn until noon on Monday.
Here is the official result.
Out of 432 votes cast, McCarthy received 216 votes, one short of victory.
He's lost the 14th round!
Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, on Capitol Hill
Image source, C-SpanThere's a tense stand-off in the back of the room, where a group of lawmakers are standing around Matt Gaetz.
Just moments ago, Kevin McCarthy walked to the back of the room and said something to Gaetz. We couldn't hear what he said.
At one point, a seated Gaetz jabbed his finger at McCarthy - and McCarthy quickly walked away, then walked back towards Gaetz as more tense words were exchanged. There were gasps, both from the representatives and from the journalists in the press gallery.
It's hard to tell exactly what's happening down on the floor.
Across the room, Democrats shouted for order.
The atmosphere in the room has completely changed. The smiles are gone - at least on the Republican side.
Matt Gaetz has voted "present" - the first time he hasn't voted for a McCarthy foe.
One of the previously absentee Republicans, Ken Buck, has voted McCarthy.
Image source, Getty ImagesMontana's Matt Rosendale has cast his vote for Andy Biggs.
That's four anti-McCarthy votes already - leaving no room for error.
The deciding vote, it seems, will be down to Matt Gaetz, who earlier stayed silent as his name was called.
Gaetz's name will be called again at the end, along with any other representatives who didn't cast their vote when called.