Republicans Struggled to Find Consensus on House Speaker Position
Republicans convened once again today to choose a House Speaker, but the prospects look grim as they continue to grapple with internal divisions. The party is unable to agree on whether to keep the voting process behind closed doors or bring their battle to the House floor for the public to witness their disarray.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise dropped out of the race late Thursday after realizing he could not secure victory by assuming his fellow Republicans would fall in line. Jim Jordan, who had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, quickly took on the frontrunner position. However, by Friday morning, he faced the same mathematical challenge.
Late Friday afternoon, Jordan won the nomination for Speaker Designate, receiving 124 votes compared to Austin Scott’s 81 votes. But this narrow margin of victory raises questions about whether he will secure the necessary 217 votes for ultimate victory on the House floor.
In a conference of 221 Republicans, any presumptive Speaker can only afford to lose 4 or 5 votes to maintain a “majority of the majority” in a chamber that does not court or want the votes of Democrats.
Amidst the uncertainty and confusion, Austin Scott surprised everyone by entering the race. He announced, “I have filed to be Speaker of the House. We are in Washington to legislate, and I want to lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people.” Scott, a 53-year-old Republican, has held elective office since his twenties and was the first Republican in the Georgia House to join with Democrats in removing the Confederate Stars and Bars from the Georgia State flag. He also accepted Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, setting himself apart from Jim Jordan, who opposed the electoral college count on January 6, 2021.
After Scalise’s withdrawal, California Rep. Tom McClintock circulated a letter advocating for the return of Speaker Kevin McCarthy through a resolution that would condemn the vote that removed him, re-nominate him, and continue voting until enough dissenting colleagues returned to support him. However, McClintock’s proposal is not gaining traction, highlighting the challenges ahead. According to Jim Kessler with Third Way, a centrist Democrat group, “Finding 217 in this snake pit is going to be hard.”
Kessler also noted that while the final chapter may not be written for Kevin McCarthy, it is challenging to see how he can regain his position without Democratic support. However, both the GOP and Democrats have not sought or offered such support.
The influence of former President Trump is evident in the jockeying over Jim Jordan. Trump had endorsed Jordan and spoke of a return visit to Congress, but when Jordan lost the secret ballot, Trump’s endorsement suffered a setback. Trump has remained conspicuously quiet about the leaderless House, only expressing doubt that either Scalise or Jordan could secure 217 votes.
Overnight, Jordan emerged as the frontrunner, reigniting his candidacy and the MAGA dream of Republicans in the House chamber relentlessly targeting the “Biden crime family.” However, not all Republicans share the enthusiasm for Jordan. At least five GOP members have publicly stated that they will not vote for him, including 18 Republicans in districts won by Biden.
The next step for the GOP involves more candidate forums next week, accompanied by efforts to bolster the power of temporary Speaker Patrick McHenry. McHenry will aid the House in conducting necessary business, including providing aid for Israel, an issue with overwhelming support in both parties.
The search for a leader becomes challenging when people are unwilling to be led. With various factions flexing their own power, the door opens for dark horse candidates like Scott, who has no national reputation. Other potential candidates include Tom Cole, a reasonable voice from Oklahoma, and Tom Emmer, currently third in GOP leadership and a natural candidate for promotion.
Republicans will reconvene on Tuesday to continue their search, but they will likely be no closer to avoiding another government shutdown looming in mid-November. If a resolution remains out of reach, it may fall to responsible lawmakers to find workarounds, as they did during McCarthy’s time as Speaker, by relying on Democratic votes to keep the government open.
The late entry of Austin Scott raises concerns about how far down the list of possible speakers Republicans will go before exhausting all options and turning to the Democrats for help. For the sake of everyone, it is hoped that the ongoing political drama ends sooner rather than later.