Summary

  • 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

Live Reporting

Edited by Jude Sheerin

  1. Counting is done

    The clerk is about to read the final tally of votes for the 12th round. Click play at the top of the page to watch live.

  2. In photos: Republicans cheer small progress

    Though Kevin McCarthy still does not have enough votes to become Speaker, he managed to convince 14 conservative Republicans - who had previously rejected his nomination - to back him.

    Lawmakers applaudGetty Images

    Illinois Republican Mary Miller gets applause after switching her vote to McCarthy

    Congress applauseGetty Images

    Alabama Republican Jerry Carl celebrates some voting progress in the battle for Speaker

    Andrew ClydeGetty Images

    Another Republican holdout, Andrew Clyde, receives applause from fellow party members after switching his vote to McCarthy

  3. Laughter, applause and relief

    Holly Honderich
    BBC News, Capitol Hill

    Ralph Norman gives a thumbs up after voting for Kevin McCarthyGetty Images

    Maybe the Republicans are getting closer to a Speaker or maybe it's just Friday but the mood in the chamber has lifted today.

    After three grinding days and 11 failed votes over the last three days, the members came in looking tired and desperate to get out of here.

    This 12th ballot has looked different. With every new vote for McCarthy from one of the Republican rebels the cheers grew louder as the end of the marathon came into view.

    Still, it's not over yet. McCarthy still needs to flip a few more of the remaining holdouts and their refusal to change so far suggests they'll be very difficult to move.

  4. 'We’re at a turning point' - Republican

    Congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, one of the leaders of the Republican rebels, explained his sudden vote to support McCarthy for Speaker moments ago.

    "We’re at a turning point," he said in a statement on Twitter.

    "I’ve negotiated in good faith, with one purpose: to restore the People’s House back to its rightful owners. The framework for an agreement is in place, so in a good-faith effort, I voted to restore the People’s House by voting for @gopleader McCarthy."

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  5. Republicans who flipped to McCarthy

    Kayla Epstein
    Reporting from New York

    Here are the 14 Republicans who switched their votes to Kevin McCarthy in this latest round of voting:

    • Dan Bishop of North Carolina
    • Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma
    • Michael Cloud of Texas
    • Andrew Clyde of Georgia
    • Byron Donalds of Florida
    • Anna Paulina Luna of Florida
    • Mary Miller of Illinois
    • Ralph Norman of South Carolina
    • Scott Perry of Pennsylvania
    • Chip Roy of Texas
    • Keith Self of Texas
    • Victoria Spartz of Indiana (returned to McCarthy after voting “present”)
    • Paul Gosar of Arizona
    • Andy Ogles of Tennessee

    McCarthy is still four votes shy of the majority he needs to win the speakership, but these flipped Republicans represents a significant break in his favour.

  6. Voting concludes, now they count

    Voting has ended in the 12th round on who should become the next Speaker in the House of Representatives. The votes are now being tallied up by hand.

    It looks like it's going to another round, but Kevin McCarthy is edging closer.

    Here are the unofficial results:

    • McCarthy (Republican): 214
    • Jordan (Republican): 4
    • Hern (Republican): 3
    • Jeffries (Democrat): 211

  7. Here are the holdouts who did not vote for McCarthy

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting on Capitol Hill

    As we’ve seen, it’s been a much better day for Kevin McCarthy, as he's won over 14 of the 20 lawmakers who refused to vote for him yesterday.

    A few holdouts, however, have remained defiant and have likely doomed this vote to yet another failure.

    The usual - and most vocal - lawmakers have continued to hold out.

    Here’s a list of who did not vote for Kevin McCarthy:

    • Andy Biggs
    • Lauren Boebert
    • Elijah Crane
    • Matt Gaetz
    • Bob Good
    • Andy Harris
    • Matthew Rosendale

  8. McCarthy opposition continues from diehard holdouts

    Anthony Zurcher
    BBC North America correspondent

    The opposition to Kevin McCarthy is down to a handful of diehard holdouts who have pledged that under no circumstances will they support the California represenative's speakership bid. But their opposition is, for now, a sufficiently imposing obstacle

    Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, in his speech nominating Jim Jordan of Ohio, was firm.

    "Mr McCarthy doesn’t have the votes today," he said. "He doesn’t have the votes tomorrow, and he will not have the votes next week, next month, next year."

    Those words are going to be put to the test, as Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, Andy Biggs and the other "never Kevin" legislators become the focus of intense pressure from their fellow Republicans to fall in line.

    If the rest of the original 20 opposing McCarthy have been won over with carrots, Gaetz and company could now be facing the sticks.

  9. McCarthy walks back onto House floor as another vote is flipped

    Embattled Republican Kevin McCarthy has just come back to the House floor and sat down.

    He's so far managed to flip a handful of Republican holdouts, but it still seems he's going to lose.

    McCarthy, however, looks calm and is whispering to colleagues on his row, tapping his fingers on the leather-bound seat as the names continue to be called.

    With news that another vote has been flipped - Florida's Anna Luna - he stood up and clapped.

  10. McCarthy likely to lose for a 12th time
    Breaking

    Six Republicans have already voted against Kevin McCarthy, meaning it looks like he's going to lose for a 12th time.

    But for the first time in 12 rounds of voting, he is seeing some movement in his favour.

  11. Byron Donalds, once nominee for Speaker, votes McCarthy

    Holly Honderich
    BBC News, on Capitol Hill

    Watch: Byron Donalds gets big ovation for siding with McCarthy

    Florida Republican Byron Donalds has just voted for Kevin McCarthy for Speaker.

    This is a big one - Donalds was a nominee for Speaker himself yesterday, with the other Republican rebels throwing their votes his way.

  12. Applause in the chamber as McCarthy holdouts flip

    At long last, Kevin McCarthy appears to be catching a break.

    A handful of Republican opponents have flipped their votes to McCarthy in this twelfth round of voting, which is still ongoing.

    The names so far:

    • Dan Bishop of North Carolina
    • Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma
    • Michael Cloud of Texas
    • Andrew Clyde of Georgia
    • Byron Donalds of Florida

    McCarthy needs at least 15 more votes to become Speaker and some holdouts are standing their ground. We'll update this post as the vote continues.

  13. Two more rebels for McCarthy
    Breaking

    Another two congressmen have flipped and voted for Kevin McCarthy - Michael Cloud and Andrew Clyde.

    Their votes get booming applause from the Republican side.

  14. McCarthy flips two rebels
    Breaking

    Two of the 20 Republican rebels called on so far - Dan Bishop and Josh Breechen - have just voted for McCarthy.

    This could be a sign that the tide is finally changing for the beleaguered Republican leader.

  15. Groundhog Day again?

    Kayla Epstein
    Reporting from New York

    Will this be the vote that frees the House from a Groundhog Day-esque time loop?

    Overnight, we heard reports that McCarthy had continued negotiations with his Republican hold outs.

    With the 12th vote now under way, we'll find out if any of these conversations have swayed McCarthy's opponents, or the House will wind up back where it started on Tuesday: without a consensus on their Speaker.

  16. Voting begins with four names on ballot

    The 12th round of voting to select a Speaker of the House of Representatives has begun, with four names on the ballot to take on Congress's most senior role.

    And we're all becoming quite familiar with who they are:

    • Kevin McCarthy (Republican)
    • Hakeem Jeffries (Democrat)
    • Jim Jordan (Republican)
    • Kevin Hern (Republican)

  17. Boebert nominates Kevin Hern, again

    A fourth name has been added to the ballot.

    Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert has nominated Oklahoma's Kevin Hern amid continued opposition to McCarthy from Republican rebels.

    Yesterday, Hern garnered seven votes - a seemingly small amount that still presents a huge problem for Kevin McCarthy.

    Boebert said she believes that he will "unite the Republican conference" and "put forward" the Republican agenda.

  18. Some Republicans leave chamber during Gaetz's speech

    Holly Honderich
    BBC News, on Capitol Hill

    Watch: Representatives walk out during Matt Gaetz speech

    Florida's Matt Gaetz is speaking now, nominating Jim Jordan to oppose Kevin McCarthy.

    Gaetz has been among the staunchest adversaries of McCarthy this week, going as far as nominating Donald Trump yesterday.

    Emotions are clearly running high. When Gaetz used his nomination of Jordan to go after McCarthy directly, Republican Mike Bost stood and shouted at him.

    Now, apparently in protest, a number of Republicans have stood and left the chamber.

  19. Democrat Jeffries nominated again

    As night follows day, the Democrats have once again nominated their new leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, to be Speaker.

    His colleague, James Clyburn from South Carolina, describes the "unique role" of Congress in US life in the "pursuit of a more perfect union".

    He adds "no day in history underscores that pursuit" than 6 January 2021, when Pro-Donald Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol.

    "Exactly two years ago today, our resolve was tested when a violent mob of insurrections attacked our Capitol, threatened the integrity of this democracy and undermined our constitution.

    "The greatness of this country and the resiliency of our democracy were put at peril, but we survived," Clyburn adds.

  20. A standing ovation for Capitol Police

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    On Capitol Hill

    Officers during 6 January riotGetty Images

    Lawmakers from both sides on the political spectrum gave a standing ovation when California Republican Mike Garcia mentioned Capitol Police - a notable fact on the second anniversary of the 6 January riot.

    Later today, Joe Biden is presenting the Presidential Citizen's Medal to 12 people who helped defend the Capitol building.

    Several former Capitol Police officers have been vocal in their criticism of House Republicans over the last few days.

    The most well-known, Michael Fanone, came to the Capitol several days ago and mocked McCarthy.

    "I just came here to rub it in," he told reporters.