The process of electing a speaker of the House has hit a roadblock once again, leaving House Republicans at square one. The leading candidate, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, dropped out of the race on Friday, leaving the party without a clear frontrunner. This development has been described as embarrassing for both the Republican Party and the nation as a whole by former speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Ca. McCarthy himself was ousted from his post due to Republican disagreement on the budget, which nearly caused a government shutdown. With Jordan’s withdrawal, the race for the speaker’s position has become even more uncertain, with a number of Republican candidates now vying for the role.
Following Jim Jordan’s exit from the speaker race, several Republican representatives have stepped forward as potential candidates. These include Rep. Tom Emmer from Minnesota, Rep. Kevin Hern from Oklahoma, Rep. Jack Bergman from Michigan, Rep. Gary Palmer from Alabama, Rep. Mike Johnson from Louisiana, Rep. Byron Donalds from Florida, Rep. Pete Sessions from Texas, Rep. Austin Scott from Georgia, and Rep. Dan Meuser from Pennsylvania. Of these candidates, Majority Whip Tom Emmer appears to be the frontrunner, as nominated by McCarthy himself.
While McCarthy has voiced his confidence in Emmer’s ability to pass challenging bills and secure majorities, other Republicans remain unsure about whom they will support. Rep. Michael Turner from Ohio and Rep. Michael McCaul from Texas both admitted on Sunday that they have not yet made up their minds. Their priority is to quickly conclude the speaker election so that they can resume governance. Rep. Liz Cheney, a former Republican representative, did not express support for any specific candidate and instead highlighted the ongoing dysfunction within the House Republican party, which she believes is not surprising.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who served from 1995 to 1999, criticized the actions of House Republicans, stating that they should remain in conference until they reach a consensus. He emphasized that the nominee would need to maintain at least 217 votes for the next several months to avoid a similar situation arising in the near future. Gingrich also expressed a desire to see women candidates in the running, such as Rep. Elise Stefanik from New York and Rep. Beth Van Duyne from Texas, as he believed they could be more effective in unifying the House. However, among the current candidates, there are no women.
Rep. McCaul, who chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, expressed concern over the deadlock in the speaker race and its timing. With significant world events, including the Israel-Hamas war and ongoing conflict in Ukraine, McCaul emphasized the urgent need for a speaker to address these critical issues. Without a speaker in place, the House’s ability to provide aid to Israel or issue a condemnation of Hamas has been severely hindered. McCaul warned that the current situation is not only dangerous but also embarrassing, as it empowers and emboldens adversaries.
Next Steps
Republicans plan to reconvene to discuss potential speaker candidates on Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The following morning, they will hold a Republican conference vote, aiming to have a floor vote later in the day. Interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., has outlined this timeline in an effort to expedite the election process and move past the current impasse.
The speaker of the House election has become a stumbling block for Republicans, creating an embarrassing and uncertain situation for the party. With multiple candidates vying for the position and a lack of consensus among Republicans, the road ahead remains challenging. As world events continue to unfold, the urgency for a speaker to address critical issues grows, adding to the already high stakes of this election. Only time will tell how Republicans navigate through this difficult and uncertain process.
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