The Latest Breaking News from Freedom Caucus

Electing the House speaker may have been the easy part

The House adopted its rules package for the 118th Congress, allowing a single member to force a vote on ousting the speaker.

WASHINGTON — It was a near-fist fight on the House floor. It was four days of name-calling, late-night huddles, rush deliveries of pizzas and burritos. It was cigar smoke wafting through the hallways, diaper changes and a dog on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected US House speaker in a historic post-midnight 15th ballot early on Saturday, overcoming holdouts from his own ranks.

McCarthy had been on the cusp of victory in the 14th round of voting late Friday, but he fell one vote short. After nearly adjourning, the House remained in session and elected McCarthy on the 15th ballot.

Republican Kevin McCarthy said: "Now the work begins," after being elected as US House Speaker in a historic 15th ballot having persuaded opponents in his own party to back him

Texas Republicans were key players in the intraparty fight over how its leaders would run the U.S. House of Representatives, with right-wing members ultimately securing major wins in the fight.

Kevin McCarthy officially secured the speaker’s gavel, elected on the 15th ballot with 216 votes, after four days of unsuccessful House votes.

WASHINGTON — Kevin McCarthy fell just short of a majority in a 13th speaker ballot on Friday, but he has managed to win over some key Republicans, including Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry and influential conservative Chip Roy, that showed he was finally starting to turn the tide in his…