NEWS 28 - Representative Matthew Carrington has been sworn in as the 33rd Speaker Of The House, after a hours long vote to determine if he would fill the vacant Speaker's chair after serving since January 5 as the Speaker Pro Tempore. He took the oath of office a little after 11:30 PM.

Carrington had served as the Speaker Pro Tempore Of The House since January 5, 2025, and several Representatives sponsored a motion to fill the speaker's chair, which had been vacant since the Jan. 5, following then-Speaker Gretchen LeWolf stepping down. Concerns mounted over the vacant chair, as Nationalists saw the vacant seat as an opportunity for Republicans to seize control of it as no incumbent was actively in the seat.

"I am beyond grateful to all of those who supported me in this vote," said Speaker Carrington. "I look forward to serving this great chamber as its 33rd Speaker. We have a lot of work to do, and I know that President Jay Laylin, when he returns back to work, will want to steam ahead with his agenda, and I look forward to working with him in a bipartisan effort to better this country. We need solid leadership willing to make compromises. We work for the people, a sentiment I have held since becoming a Representative of this great legislative chamber. I will not lose that now or ever. I look forward to working with all of you, both Republican and Nationalist to push forward with legislation."

Carrington will serve as Speaker until September, where he will seek a full term in office. He expressed interest in running for Speaker while then-Speaker LeWolf was facing scrutiny, marking the beginning of their falling out. Carrington says the House needed "a leadership change bad."

Speaker Carrington is set to announce his Deputy Speaker, who current is Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore Noland Burmaster. Rumors have been floating around that he may select former House Speaker Braden Harris, or Nolan Burmaster for the post. It has to be confirmed, but Carrington's office said that he will announce who his Deputy Speaker will be tomorrow morning.

It is expected that he will continue to floor votes related to President Jay Laylin's administration and said that he will remain bipartisan to work better for the people of the United States Of Jesstopia.