In the midst of the ongoing tumult within the Republican Party over the race for the next Speaker of the House, Fox News announced on Friday that it would be hosting a joint interview with three potential candidates for the position. The interview was set to take place on Monday and would feature Representatives Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, and Kevin Hern. However, just hours after the announcement, all three candidates backed out, leading to the cancellation of the event.[0]
The decision to cancel the interview came after intense blowback from GOP lawmakers, particularly those considered to be more moderate within the party. Many Republicans were infuriated by the idea of a televised debate for the speakership, believing that such discussions should take place within the confines of the party, rather than being aired publicly. Several lawmakers expressed their frustrations to the speaker candidates, leading them to withdraw from the scheduled event.
The cancellation of the interview highlights the deep divisions within the Republican Party as it grapples with finding a new leader following the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy was removed from power after nine months as speaker, with some members of his own party citing his collaboration with Democrats as the reason for his removal.[1] Since then, Republicans have been scrambling to find a new speaker who can secure the support of the majority of the party.
The race for the speakership has narrowed down to two declared candidates: Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio and Steve Scalise of Louisiana.[2] Both candidates have their own history with the Biden White House, with Jordan leading an impeachment inquiry into Biden and Scalise having served in GOP leadership.[3] The third potential candidate, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, has not officially announced his candidacy but is being considered for the position.[4]
The GOP caucus is currently scheduled to hold a candidates forum on Tuesday, followed by a closed-door vote on Wednesday to determine their party's speaker nominee.[5] The nominee will then go up against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York on the House floor, where they will need to secure a majority of members present and voting to secure the gavel.[5] However, it remains uncertain when the fight for the speakership will hit the House floor.[6]
The cancellation of the Fox News interview has sparked debate within the party about the best way to choose a new speaker. Some Republicans believe that the process should remain private and that airing the discussions publicly would set a bad precedent. Others argue that the public nature of the debate would provide transparency and allow the American people to see the candidates' visions and strategies for the top job.
Ultimately, the cancellation of the interview underscores the challenges and divisions facing the Republican Party as it searches for a new leader. With intense infighting and differing opinions within the party, it remains to be seen who will emerge as the next Speaker of the House and how they will navigate the complex political landscape of Washington, D.C.
0. “House Republicans Finally Did Something Smart” The New Republic, 6 Oct. 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/176050/republican-speaker-debate-canceled
1. “House Republicans to hold secret ballot election before nominating speaker” Colorado Springs Gazette, 10 Oct. 2023, https://gazette.com/news/wex/house-republicans-to-hold-secret-ballot-election-before-nominating-speaker/article_e4b37e78-81c5-5583-a34c-27ba931766a1.html
2. “FOX Speaker debate would be a ‘horrible mistake,’ ‘family discussions’ not to be aired ‘in public’” MSNBC, 6 Oct. 2023, https://www.msnbc.com/andrea-mitchell-reports/watch/fox-speaker-debate-would-be-a-horrible-mistake-family-discussions-not-to-be-aired-in-public-194603589516
3. “Biden finds GOP's chaos a helpful contrast but an unwelcome distraction | News Channel 3-12” KEYT, 6 Oct. 2023, https://keyt.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2023/10/06/biden-finds-gops-chaos-a-helpful-contrast-but-an-unwelcome-distraction
4. “House Republicans set speaker election schedule” Roll Call , 6 Oct. 2023, https://rollcall.com/2023/10/06/fox-news-speaker-candidate-forum-nixed/
5. “Televised Fox News Speaker forum called off after candidates pull out” The Hill, 6 Oct. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4242236-televised-fox-news-speaker-forum-called-off-after-candidates-pull-out/
6. “Fox News Speaker ‘Debate' Off After Republicans Decry ‘Horrible Idea'” The Daily Beast, 6 Oct. 2023, https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-bret-baier-to-moderate-gop-speaker-candidate-debate
