WASHINGTON — The 118th Congress is now in session after the historic vote for Kevin McCarthy overnight.
It took five days and 15 rounds of voting for him to seize the gavel just past midnight. Early Saturday morning, the sign marking McCarthy’s House speaker role was installed on Capitol Hill.
Republicans from the Tri-State Area are being credited with helping end the stalemate.
“My father always told me, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and now we need to finish strong for the American people,” McCarthy said.
It almost didn’t happen. The prior session ended with tensions boiled over as Alabama’s Mike Rogers had to be pulled away from Florida’s Matt Gaetz and other members who did not vote for McCarthy.
As the House was preparing to adjourn until Monday, Republican Long Island Congressman Andrew Garbarino was one of the first to vote for them to stay, along with other New York Republicans.
”"Congressman Garbarino and I and Nicole Malliotakis and Nick LaLota and others we just thought, you know, the time has come," Rep. Anthony D'Esposito said.
