Kevin McCarthy, after predicting he would have the votes to become speaker on the 14th ballot, fell one vote short on the first vote after the House reconvened Friday night.
The last holdout who hadn’t voted was Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, who McCarthy ally North Carolina Republican Patrick Henry spent most of the vote working.
In the end Gaetz voted “present,” which was a conciliatory gesture from someone who pledged never to vote for the California Republican — but not enough to help McCarthy secure the gavel.
