Chaotic Start to New Session U.S. House Speaker: “I Didn’t See This Coming”

Last Updated on 01/08/2023 by てんしょく飯

After a total of 15 marathon votes, the U.S. House of Representatives finally elected Republican Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.

　Although the Republicans regained the majority in the midterm elections last November, the start of the new administration was chaotic.

I’m an honest man. I didn’t see this coming,” McCarthy said frankly in a speech after the vote, which lasted until early morning on January 7. His face showed signs of fatigue. At the moment the election was decided, some relieved Republican members of Congress shouted “USA!

This was the first time in 164 years, since 1859, that more than 10 votes were cast to elect the Speaker of the House. On the 14th ballot, which fell one vote short of a majority, McCarthy even confronted a fellow Republican who had defected.