House Republicans Struggle to Choose a New Speaker as McCarthy’s Ouster Causes Division
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
House Republicans are facing a daunting task as they meet behind closed doors today to select a nominee for the next speaker. Following the abrupt ouster of Kevin McCarthy, it remains uncertain if any candidate will be able to gather enough support to win the gavel.
The race for the speakership currently includes House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan, but neither candidate has secured the necessary 217 votes for a majority vote by the full chamber. This has created a sense of uncertainty and raised questions about when and how the GOP majority will be able to elect a new speaker.
The lack of a speaker has left the House in a state of paralysis since McCarthy’s removal, which is further complicated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The longer it takes for Republicans to elect a new speaker, the less time lawmakers will have to address pressing issues, such as the approaching funding deadline in mid-November and the risk of a government shutdown.
In a candidate forum held on Tuesday evening, Rep. Mike Garcia expressed doubt about the ability of the GOP to elect a speaker on Wednesday, stating that the chances are around “50/50.” Similarly, GOP Rep. Thomas Massie rated the odds even lower, putting them at only 2%.
Despite McCarthy’s announcement that he will not run for the speaker position again, some of his allies could still nominate him during today’s closed-door meeting. However, McCarthy has reportedly advised members not to do so.
Currently, a candidate only needs a simple majority of the conference, or 111 votes, to win the GOP nomination for speaker. But many Republicans argue that this threshold is too low and fails to ensure that the nominee can secure the necessary 217 votes on the House floor. As a result, there is a push to raise the threshold to a majority of the full House to avoid a protracted floor fight similar to the one that occurred in January.
During today’s meeting, House Republicans are expected to vote on whether to raise the threshold for the GOP nomination. The meeting will unfold with members gathering behind closed doors, followed by a vote on conference rules and any potential changes. Members will then formally nominate a candidate and give short speeches before participating in a secret ballot.
It is unclear when the House will hold a vote of the full chamber to elect a new speaker. The timing will likely be determined by the GOP nominee, with Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry expected to defer to their decision.
The outcome of today’s closed-door meeting will have significant implications for House Republicans as they seek to navigate internal divisions and move forward with their legislative agenda.