Behind-the-scenes C-SPAN footage from the House chamber shows chaos and frustration after nearly a dozen failed attempts to elect a Speaker

Lauren Frias,Sonam ShethJan 7, 2023, 02:03 IST

Votes are tallied at the conclusion of a fifth round of voting in the House chamber as the House meets for a second day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.Alex Brandon/AP

C-SPAN cameras are giving viewers a rare look at the House floor as the chamber is deadlocked in voting for a Speaker.
The chamber has been voting to elect a House Speaker since Tuesday, January 3, making it the longest vote in over a century.

Under normal circumstances, C-SPAN must use cameras controlled by government employees at the House Recording Studio, which tend to be restricted to wide-angle shots.

But, for the past week, House lawmakers have been locked in a stalemate trying to elect a Speaker of the House at the start of the 118th session of Congress.

Without a Speaker, C-SPAN is able to use their own cameras, giving viewers a rare, unrestricted look behind-the-scenes of the longest House Speaker election process in over a century, with GOP frontrunner Kevin McCarthy falling short of the threshold nearly a dozen times.

Judy Wages, the wife of U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) watches a vote to adjourn in the House Chamber during the third day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 05, 2023 in Washington, D.C.Win McNamee/Getty Images

Source: Washington Post

Without a Speaker, C-SPAN is able to use their own cameras, giving viewers a rare, unrestricted look behind-the-scenes of the longest House Speaker election process in over a century, with GOP frontrunner Kevin McCarthy falling short of the threshold nearly a dozen times.

Source: Washington Post

Democratic Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was seen speaking with GOP Rep.-elect Paul Gosar, who once stirred controversy for sharing a violent edited anime video of him slaying her.

Ocasio-Cortez was also seen speaking with a common adversary in the chamber, Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz. She later said that Gaetz told her McCarthy was trying to convince the GOP that he could cut a deal with Democrats to give him the gavel, to which Ocasio-Cortez responded, "absolutely not."

GOP Rep.-elect George Santos, who, in December, admitted to fabricating parts of his resume, was seen sitting alone in the chamber scrolling on his phone and, at one point, yawning.

Santos, who was reportedly booed by House Democrats for casting a vote for McCarthy on the first day, was also seen scrambling to cast his vote after missing his name during roll call while engrossed in conversation with another lawmaker.

As Republican holdouts prompt further delay in electing a Speaker, Democrats, who have stood united behind their nominee Rep.-elect Hakeem Jeffries, were captured looking amused by the turmoil across the aisle.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was seen reading a New Yorker article about McCarthy's bid for the gavel titled, "What will Kevin McCarthy do to gain power."

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., looks at a magazine article that has a picture of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on it as the House votes in the fourth round of voting for a second day are they try to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.AP Images

Source: New Yorker, Insider

One thing all lawmakers in the House could rally behind was a standing ovation for Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson, who has been running roll call votes during the election process.

Some Democrats were so amused that they brought their own popcorn.

As the House vote drags into its fourth day, lawmakers and their family members alike were seen exhausted by the multiple rounds of roll call votes.

Some lawmakers, including Democratic Reps.-elect Jimmy Gomez and Joaquin Castro, brought their babies with them to the House floor, toting baby blankets and diaper bags in between votes.

C-SPAN's control of their cameras has also proven lucrative for the public network, boosting their ratings by 161% since the election for the Speaker began.

staffer watches C-SPAN on a television monitor during the 10th attempt in the House to elect a speaker in the Capitol on Thursday, January 5, 2023.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Source: Morning Brew

Photos show members of Congress reading comic books and bringing their pets to the House floor as the GOP speaker gridlock continues

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Behind-the-scenes C-SPAN footage from the House chamber shows chaos and frustration after nearly a dozen failed attempts to elect a Speaker

Under normal circumstances, C-SPAN must use cameras controlled by government employees at the House Recording Studio, which tend to be restricted to wide-angle shots.

But, for the past week, House lawmakers have been locked in a stalemate trying to elect a Speaker of the House at the start of the 118th session of Congress.

Without a Speaker, C-SPAN is able to use their own cameras, giving viewers a rare, unrestricted look behind-the-scenes of the longest House Speaker election process in over a century, with GOP frontrunner Kevin McCarthy falling short of the threshold nearly a dozen times.

Democratic Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was seen speaking with GOP Rep.-elect Paul Gosar, who once stirred controversy for sharing a violent edited anime video of him slaying her.

Ocasio-Cortez was also seen speaking with a common adversary in the chamber, Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz. She later said that Gaetz told her McCarthy was trying to convince the GOP that he could cut a deal with Democrats to give him the gavel, to which Ocasio-Cortez responded, "absolutely not."

GOP Rep.-elect George Santos, who, in December, admitted to fabricating parts of his resume, was seen sitting alone in the chamber scrolling on his phone and, at one point, yawning.

Santos, who was reportedly booed by House Democrats for casting a vote for McCarthy on the first day, was also seen scrambling to cast his vote after missing his name during roll call while engrossed in conversation with another lawmaker.

As Republican holdouts prompt further delay in electing a Speaker, Democrats, who have stood united behind their nominee Rep.-elect Hakeem Jeffries, were captured looking amused by the turmoil across the aisle.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was seen reading a New Yorker article about McCarthy's bid for the gavel titled, "What will Kevin McCarthy do to gain power."

One thing all lawmakers in the House could rally behind was a standing ovation for Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson, who has been running roll call votes during the election process.

Some Democrats were so amused that they brought their own popcorn.

As the House vote drags into its fourth day, lawmakers and their family members alike were seen exhausted by the multiple rounds of roll call votes.

Some lawmakers, including Democratic Reps.-elect Jimmy Gomez and Joaquin Castro, brought their babies with them to the House floor, toting baby blankets and diaper bags in between votes.

C-SPAN's control of their cameras has also proven lucrative for the public network, boosting their ratings by 161% since the election for the Speaker began.