Kevin McCarthy elected U.S. House speaker
The U.S. House Republican leadership standoff ended early Saturday morning with Kevin McCarthy winning the speaker's gavel on a historic 15th vote in the longest such election since 1859, ABC News reported.
The drama stretched into a fourth day Friday with three more failed votes to decide on a speaker after 11 others over Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the last one ending in a heated one-vote loss at the hands of holdout Matt Gaetz.
McCarthy had been stymied by a small group of hardliners. They demanded concessions, to reshape how the House is run and legislation it prioritizes, or alternative candidates.
The House was prevented from conducting any other business -- and members couldn't be sworn in -- until a speaker was chosen.
"I may not know all of you, some of you are new," McCarthy said as he wrapped up his remarks. "But I hope one thing is clear after this week: I never give up."
"I make this promise, I'll never give up on you the American people," he added.
McCarthy then took his oath of office and is now the 55th speaker of the House of Representatives.