This story is free to read.

Final McCarthy win had support of all Tennessee, Georgia Republican members

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks with Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. Before the eighth round of voting for speaker as the House meets for the third day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks with Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. Before the eighth round of voting for speaker as the House meets for the third day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

By Andy Sher January 7, 2023 2 min read

NASHVILLE — Conservative hardliners in Tennessee and Georgia were central to the drama in the 118th Congress during its first week, during which Republican leader Kevin McCarthy struggled to win their votes to name him speaker of the House.

The 15th and final vote came shortly after midnight after a four-day struggle for McCarthy, who had been the House GOP leader.

Among the ultra-conservatives finally voting for McCarthy on Friday were Republicans Andy Ogles of Columbia, Tennessee, a freshman and former Maury County mayor and one-time head of Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee, and Andrew Clyde, a second-term Gainesville, Georgia, businessman.

Other Tennessee and Georgia Republican congressmen, among them U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Ooltewah and U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tennessee, had backed McCarthy all along.