New Congress live updates: What's next after Kevin McCarthy's speakership win

Rep.-elect Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., took time to recognize Friday's second anniversary of the U.S. Capitol attack as he nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., for speaker.

"This body has a unique role in this government," Clyburn said. "What we do and how we do it will determine whether our pursuit toward a more perfect union can continue in earnest. No day in recent history underscores the importance of that pursuit more than Jan. 6. Exactly two years ago today, our resolve was tested when a violent mob of insurrectionists attacked our Capitol, threatened the integrity of this democracy, and undermined our Constitution. The greatness of this country and the resiliency of our democracy were put at peril. But we survived."

Clyburn said Democrats are "offering the people of America a good man who has the best interests of the American people at heart."

For a 12th time, McCarthy was nominated to become House speaker, this time by fellow California Republican Rep.-elect Mike Garcia, who said Republicans are "on the verge of a very important victory."

"This isn't about Kevin McCarthy," Garcia said. "The matters before us are of stupendous magnitude. A federal republic such as ours, it's a dynamically unstable one. It's a wobbly top that's just a few mere revolutions away from falling down at any given moment except for the exertions of men and women who are willing to serve her with pure and selfless intent."

"We must be victorious in this cause, and victory begins with allowing this body to get to work. It begins today," he continued. "We don't hold the majority for bragging rights. We hold the majority to govern responsibly."

Garcia drew boos from Democrats when he mentioned an end to proxy voting, implying they overused the option, though Republicans exercised proxy voting during the pandemic, as well.

"It dawns on me, as I look across the aisle after being here for nearly three years, that I haven't had the pleasure of meeting many of you because you've chosen to stay home and not vote here in person and electing instead to proxy vote," Garcia said. "It's a pleasure to see 212 of you here today."

Despite his record-busting 11 failed speaker votes looming large, McCarthy entered the Capitol this morning showing confidence.

Peppered with questions about whether his recent offer to Republican hardliners who oppose him would be enough to secure his gavel, McCarthy said he wasn't sure if today would yet be the day, but said, "We're going to make progress," adding, "We are going to shock you."

But he also noted that there will likely be member attendance issues Friday and over the weekend as some lawmakers have already left in Washington.

"I don't know if we can get there today, but we're going to make progress," McCarthy said.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

During a conference call this morning with the Republican conference, McCarthy told members that there's not officially a deal to vote him speaker, but said he believes they're "in a good position" and working in "good faith."

"I'm not telling you we have an agreement," McCarthy said on the call, according to multiple sources. "We're in a good position and having meetings."

McCarthy ally, Patrick McHenry, said on the call that no gavels for committee chairmanships have been promised during their talks.

McCarthy, again, said on this call that he has agreed to offer a key concession: making it even easier to remove him as speaker if he is elected. So, a single member, from either party, can trigger an up-or-down simple majority vote on whether to remove the speaker.

But still, after failing 11 times, the math still doesn't appear to be in McCarthy's favor. And there could be votes over the weekend.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a pro-McCarthy ally, told ABC News that the next phase of working on the handful of hard no's will involve more isolated discussions with those who have concerns beyond just personal issues.

"It's not a monolithic group. Each one of them have different concerns. Some, it's motion to vacate, some, it's guardrails around the budget. But when you shrink that group down, you're able to have one-on-one conversations as to what does it take for them to get to yes, if anything," Fitzpatrick said.

-ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott, Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin