On Oct. 4, a groundbreaking event occurred in the Republican Party as a small group of rebels voted to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy from office during a mid-Congress floor vote. Led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), these eight members left the House speakerless for two weeks and counting. Despite subsequent efforts to find a replacement, all attempts have failed thus far.
First, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) won a closed-door party vote to become the party’s choice for speaker. However, he was immediately rejected by the same rebels who overthrew McCarthy, and he subsequently withdrew his candidacy. Then, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) gained the backing of the rebels, McCarthy, and Scalise. Nevertheless, a coalition of lawmakers, including Appropriations Committee members, vulnerable New Yorkers, and enigmatic legislators, joined forces to reject Jordan on three separate occasions. The future remains uncertain.
The current state of affairs in the House of Representatives, particularly within the Republican Party, may leave many perplexed. To shed light on the situation, I sought the expertise of Daniel Schlozman, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University specializing in political party history and behavior. Schlozman, together with his co-author Sam Rosenfeld of Colgate University, has written extensively on the hollowing out of political parties and the rise of the New Right, a political movement prioritizing conflict and instrumentalism over institutional order. Their forthcoming book, “The Hollow Parties: The Many Pasts and Disordered Present of American Party Politics,” delves into this research.
In our interview, Schlozman explains that a faction on the right, known as the Freedom Caucus, is responsible for the current turmoil in the Republican Party. These individuals are more interested in performative antics and demonstrating their commitment to causing trouble than in governing. Empowered by a narrow majority, their tendencies have infected the entire party. Schlozman traces the origins of the Freedom Caucus back to the tea party movement, which was initially characterized as small government proponents but was primarily motivated by immigration concerns. While they initially clashed with Donald Trump over repealing Obamacare, they later became his staunch defenders.
In examining the route to power and success within the Republican Party today, Schlozman emphasizes the significant role played by Fox News and the conservative media complex. These para-party groups have gained prominence due to the lack of party structure and gatekeeping. Figures like Matt Gaetz, initially seen as an entertaining figure, have garnered influence and transformed into significant players in the political landscape. The absence of responsible conservatism and organized strategies within the Republican Party has allowed the rebels to thrive.
Schlozman highlights the incentives driving the McCarthy disruptors. These incentives include policy outcomes, advancement in the chamber, and long-term influence outside of the House. The anti-McCarthy rebels prioritize gaining influence within the right-wing media and movement ecosystem because this aligns with their goals of performance, drama, and confrontation. For them, chaos is a strategy. While Rep. Jim Jordan is a favored figure among the rebels, his extreme conservatism prevents him from securing the position of speaker.
In analyzing the rationales given by the rebels for ousting McCarthy, Schlozman acknowledges their opposition to working with Democrats and their critique of the strong speaker system. However, he suggests that more weight should be given to their desire for performance and confrontation rather than policy outcomes.
Overall, the current state of the Republican Party in the House reveals a deep divide and a lack of order within the party. The rise of para-party groups and the influence of the conservative media complex have contributed to this disarray. These dynamics, along with the rebels’ appetite for conflict and chaos, have created a unique and perplexing situation in American politics.
Note: The interview with Daniel Schlozman has been edited for clarity and length.
