Members of Minnesota's congressional delegation are reacting to the five-day slog of posturing, shouting, and infighting that eventually led to Kevin McCarthy finally becoming Speaker of the US House of Representatives.
Republican Michelle Fishbach is praising the selection, which ended early Saturday morning, while Democrat Dean Phillipslashed out at a process that left the workings of congress at a standstill.
"All I can say is... wow!" said Phillips, who stood to nominate fellow Democrat Hakeem Jeffries after a 14th ballot failed to produce a speaker.
His exclamation was in reaction to the heated confrontation late Friday between Republicans after McCarthy's election was once again blocked by a small group of GOP House members.
"Suffice to say Americans are unhappy by the nonsense and the disfunction playing out on this floor," Phillips continued. "Particularly those who need us the most, who rely on our offices, and I mean every single one of offices, for services and support."
Not long after Phillips spoke, McCarthy was elected on the 15th ballot, ending five days of contentious maneuvering in the first US House Speaker election to last past a first ballot in 100 years.
"I am glad that we have elected a Speaker and can now move forward as a majority united," said Fischbach in a statement. "I look forward to getting to work on the serious issues facing our country today, such as the crisis at the southern border, runaway government spending, and the desperate need to hold this Administration accountable."
McCarthy was able to overcome the holdouts from his own ranks.
Floor tensions boiled over into shouting after a chaotic week that tested the new GOP majority's ability to govern.
But McCarthy prevailed in the end as he had said he would.
"Now the hard work begins," he declared as supporters cheered. During four days of grueling ballots, McCarthy flipped more than a dozen conservative holdouts to supporters.
Then a few of the remaining holdouts switched to merely vote "present," dropping the tally McCarthy needed to win.
Members were finally sworn into office.
