U.S. Representative and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California speaks to the news media after reports emerged that U.S. Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio would not seek a third vote for the position of Speaker of the House. Instead, Jordan plans to endorse a proposal to empower Speaker of the House Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry of North Carolina to hold the position until January. McCarthy made these statements at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on October 19, 2023.
Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters
The process of electing a speaker of the House has returned to square one.
Over the weekend, House Republicans found themselves without their leading candidate for speaker, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, who withdrew from the race on Friday. An internal Republican vote revealed that a majority favored pursuing a new nominee.
“This situation is embarrassing for the Republican Party and for the nation,” remarked former speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. McCarthy was removed from his position on October 3 after a disagreement among Republicans over the budget almost led to a government shutdown.
Following Jordan’s withdrawal, several Republican candidates, including Majority Whip Tom Emmer, expressed their interest in entering the race. Emmer is considered a frontrunner. As of Sunday, nine Republican representatives have committed to campaigning for the position of speaker.
On Friday, McCarthy nominated Emmer, stating that Emmer’s ability to pass challenging bills and secure majorities makes him the most suitable candidate for the job.
Up to this point, many Republicans have not shown strong support for any particular nominee for speaker.
Representatives Michael Turner of Ohio and Michael McCaul of Texas both stated on Sunday that they are undecided about whom they will vote for but expressed the urgency of finalizing the election in order to continue governing effectively.
“Congress is a lot like high school, but even more so. Hopefully, we will move past this,” Turner expressed on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. He also emphasized his commitment to being part of the governing majority, enabling the party to reach a consensus on the speaker.
Former Republican Representative Liz Cheney did not show support for any specific candidate, remarking on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the current state of dysfunction within the House Republican party is not surprising.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who served from 1995 to 1999, criticized the delay caused by House Republicans.
“Instead of leaving the conference room, they should stay in and bring in food. They should not allow anyone to leave until they secure 217 votes,” Gingrich stated on “Fox News Sunday.” He added that the speaker nominee must maintain those 217 votes for the next five to six months to prevent a similar situation from arising in the near future.
Gingrich also expressed a desire for women candidates in the race, such as Representatives Elise Stefanik of New York and Beth Van Duyne of Texas, stating that they could play a more effective role in unifying the House. Currently, none of the nine candidates in the speaker race are women.
McCaul, the chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, highlighted the unfortunate timing of the speaker race deadlock, considering ongoing world events such as the Israel-Hamas conflict and the war in Ukraine.
McCaul stated on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that without a speaker, the House is hindered in its ability to provide aid to Israel or issue a condemnation of the militant group Hamas.
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