McCarthy loses 14th ballot but edges closer to speaker in late-night vote

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy edged to the cusp of becoming House speaker late on Friday night but failed a historic 14th vote (Alex Brandon/AP)

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy edged to the cusp of becoming House speaker late on Friday night but failed a historic 14th vote.

Before the vote, Mr McCarthy had flipped 15 conservative holdouts to become supporters, including the chairman of the chamber’s Freedom Caucus, leaving him just a few shy of seizing the gavel for the new Congress.