Iran Press/America: The 57-year-old Californian suffered one final humiliation when Representative Matt Gaetz withheld his vote on the 14th ballot as midnight approached, prompting a scuffle in which fellow Republican Mike Rogers had to be physically pulled away.
McCarthy's victory on the 15th ballot brought an end to the most profound congressional dysfunction in 160 years. But it sharply illustrated the difficulties that he would face in leading a narrow and deeply polarized majority.
He won at last on a margin of 216-211.
He could be elected with the votes of fewer than half the House members only because five in his party withheld their voices - not backing McCarthy as a leader, but also not voting for another contender.
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