McCarthy confronts Gaetz in chaotic House floor scene after failing again to secure speakership

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was on the verge Friday night of becoming the next speaker of the House — but was left one vote short when old foe Rep. Matt Gaetz derailed his chances by voting “present.”

Gaetz’s antics in the 14th ballot of the marathon speakership contest led to a stunning scene on the House floor as McCarthy slowly walked up the gallery steps to confront the Florida lawmaker with an icy stare.

The two spoke animatedly for roughly a minute, with lawmakers huddled around them, before McCarthy walked away in disgust. He then turned back and approached Gaetz again, pointing his finger at him as the tensions continued to boil.

Adding to the wild scene, Mike Rogers of Alabama had to be restrained by Richard Hudson of North Carolina as he appeared to lunge angrily toward Gaetz.
By that point, McCarthy seemed to realize that the negotiations weren’t getting anywhere and he walked back toward his seat with an irritated expression on his face.

When the dust settled, McCarthy notched 216 votes, his best showing since voting began on Tuesday, but still one shy of the magic number.

Friday night’s showdown came as the House has been deadlocked since Tuesday.

During the 14th vote, Gaetz and Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert voted “present” on the, signaling a softening of their anti-McCarthy stances, but it wasn’t enough to hand McCarthy the gavel.

McCarthy flipped 15 previous GOP holdout votes following the 13th ballot, leaving Andy Biggs of Arizona, Boebert, Gaetz, Eli Crane of Arizona, Bob Good of Virginia and Matt Rosendale of Montana as the remaining GOP opposition to his speakership.

Biggs, Crane, Good and Rosendale remained in the anti-McCarthy camp, with Crane and Rosendale voting for Biggs, and Good and Biggs voting for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).

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Before the House reconvened, Gaetz told Fox News that he was “running out of things to ask for” from McCarthy.

McHenry, who nominated McCarthy on the 14th ballot, said before the vote that McCarthy has “grown as a leader” during this week’s turmoil.

“He’s relentless. The man does not quit,” McHenry said, adding that McCarthy led the Republicans back to the majority in the House and is the “right person to lead us over the coming two years.”

A motion to adjourn until Monday at noon failed to pass and the House will now vote on their 15th ballot for speaker.