Title: Republican Leader Nomination Raises Concerns of Internal Strife in Congress
Date: October 24, 2023
In a bid to fill the vacant position of House Speaker, U.S. Republicans have nominated Mike Johnson, a representative from Louisiana, amid anxieties over the ongoing party infighting that has stalled Congress for over three weeks.
This month alone, Johnson becomes the fourth Republican candidate to secure the party’s nomination for the esteemed role. The speaker’s chair has remained vacant since the removal of Kevin McCarthy on October 3rd, following a rebellion by a faction of party rebels.
The internal divisions within the Republican party have hampered lawmakers’ ability to address critical issues such as the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as preventing measures to avert a potential partial government shutdown, scheduled to commence on November 18th without congressional action.
While it remains unclear whether Johnson can overcome the divisions that derailed the previous three candidates, it is worth noting that the runner-up in the nominating vote was the ousted McCarthy himself, who secured 43 votes despite not officially declaring his candidacy.
Earlier on the same day, Tom Emmer, the No. 3 House Republican, had initially won the nomination but later withdrew due to opposition from the party’s right-wing flank. Similar to Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan before him, Emmer’s bid was hindered by a small group of holdouts who denied him the necessary 217 votes required to claim the speaker’s gavel. With the party’s narrow 221-212 majority, any candidate can only afford to lose a maximum of four votes if Democrats remain united in opposition.
Representative Marc Molinaro expressed concern over the lack of progress, stating, “We have no capacity at the moment to come to a verdict, and that is a very distressing place to be.”
Mike Johnson, a constitutional law attorney known for his conservative views, has positioned himself as a bridge builder, striving to unite the various Republican factions. His congressional district in northwest Louisiana is considered one of the poorest in the nation.
Johnson’s nomination gained support from Representative Kevin Hern, who abandoned his own bid to back Johnson, stating, “He knows everybody very well, does a great job with bringing people to the floor, talking about our policies, and that’s what we need right now.”
Johnson outperformed Byron Donalds, Mark Green, Roger Williams, and Chuck Fleischmann in the latest round of Republican speaker nominations. In total, 14 Republicans have thrown their names into the ring for the speakership this month.
However, the opposition from former President Donald Trump played a pivotal role in Emmer’s withdrawal. Unlike many Republicans, Emmer voted to certify President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, leading to Trump openly endorsing Jim Jordan’s bid for speaker earlier this month. However, Republicans abandoned Jordan’s attempt after he lost three floor votes.
The inability to determine a compromise candidate acceptable to both parties highlights the need for a bipartisan approach in order for the House to resume regular functioning. Leading House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries emphasized the importance of a bipartisan path forward in reopening the House.
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the party’s internal strife has also contributed to increased borrowing costs for the U.S. government. In the most recent fiscal year, the government recorded a staggering $1.7 trillion deficit, partly due to higher interest payments.
Media Contact:
– Luc Cohen
– Richard Cowan
– Katharine Jackson
– David Morgan
– Makini Brice
– Julio Cesar-Chavez
Written by:
– Andy Sullivan
Editing by:
– Scott Malone
– Stephen Coates