It’s like a soap opera, only it’s real!

In a chain of events that seems pulled right from an episode of The West Wing, Republican Kent Williams won the speakership of the Tennessee House of Representatives, beating veteran Democrat Jimmy Naifeh and Republican leader Jason Mumpower, who was widely expected to get the post. What makes Williams’ winning the speakership dramatic is how the votes broke down. Williams defeated Rep. Mumpower by a vote of 50-49, with the deciding vote having been cast by Rep. Williams himself. What’s more, Williams was actually nominated for the speakership by Democrats, throwing a huge monkeywrench into what was supposed to be Rep. Mumpower’s crowning moment.

Here’s some video of the goings-on in Nashville:

Writers for television couldn’t have done it any better.

H/T to The Chief.

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