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

Fourteen of the Republicans who'd been opposing McCarthy's bid switched their stance in the 12th round of voting.

But it wasn't enough for him to clinch the speaker's gavel. McCarthy received 213 votes, still short of the majority needed.

He gained support from Reps.-elect Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Michael Cloud of Texas, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Byron Donalds of Florida, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Mary Miller of Illinois, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Chip Roy of Texas, Keith Self of Texas, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, Paul Gosar of Arizona and Andrew Ogles of Tennessee.

Perry, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, cited a "framework for an agreement" as he explained his shift in a Twitter post.

"We’re at a turning point," Perry wrote.

The flips follow a key concession from McCarthy to make it even easier to remove him as speaker if he is elected. Under the deal, a single member from either party could trigger an up-or-down simple majority vote on whether to remove the speaker.

In Friday's first round of voting -- the 12th round overall this week -- several of the Republicans who'd been opposing McCarthy's bid switched their stance.

But it remains unclear whether McCarthy will gain enough support to clinch the gavel. The vote is ongoing.

Responding to Rep. Mike Garcia saying McCarthy has "earned this position," Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, blasted the bid as "an exercise in vanity" and cast McCarthy as "the LeBron James of special interest fundraising in this town."

"You only earn the position of speaker of the House if you can get the votes. Mr. McCarthy doesn't have the votes," Gaetz said. "He will not have the votes -- and he will not have the votes next week, next month, next year -- ad so one must wonder, madam clerk, is this an exercise in vanity for someone who has done the math, taken the counts, and is putting this institution threw something that absolutely is avoidable?"

Gaetz also drew colleagues that support McCarthy into his attack, prompting Rep.-elect Mike Bost of Illinois to shout at Gaetz, making the case that he wasn't gaining any traction in the debate. Several Republicans then left the chamber while Gaetz continued his nominating speech.

"They believe that Mr. McCarthy has earned the position of speaker of the house because he raised half a billion dollars to get Republicans elected," Gaetz said, as he was interrupted and members walked out.

"Selflessness is not selling shares of yourself to the lobbying core and then doing their bidding at the expense of the American people," Gaetz said. "But there certainly is intent. It's an intent driven almost exclusively by personal ambition, and that ambition is paralyzing the house now."

He ultimately nominated Rep. Jim Jordan, who is supporting McCarthy's bid.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo, also in the "Never Kevin" camp, went on to nominate Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., once again.

-ABC News' John Parkinson

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."