In a historic turn of events, Representative Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his position as House speaker, making him the first speaker in U.S. history to be removed in a no-confidence vote.[0] McCarthy's removal came after Representative Matt Gaetz raised a motion to vacate, following McCarthy's collaboration with House Democrats to pass a stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. This move angered the House GOP's further-right flank, which had been pushing for significant spending cuts.[1]
Following McCarthy's removal, Republicans have nominated Representative Steve Scalise as their next House speaker.[2] Scalise, who currently serves as House Majority Leader, has been a prominent figure within the GOP.[3] However, his nomination is not without controversy. Scalise has faced criticism in the past for attending a white supremacist conference organized by a group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.[4] He has since distanced himself from Duke and condemned his views.[4]
Scalise's bid for the speakership is not a sure win, as he can only afford to lose a few Republican votes in order to secure a majority.[5] With the Republican Party holding a narrow House majority, there is concern about their ability to govern effectively and convince voters that they deserve to remain in power.
The race for speaker is now primarily between Scalise and Representative Jim Jordan, who has received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.[6] Jordan, a staunch conservative, has been a vocal advocate for Trump's false claims about the 2020 election.[7] If Jordan were to be elected as speaker, it would be seen as a further embrace of Trump's attack on democracy and a threat to the constitutional order.[7]
The division within the Republican Party over the speakership is evident, with several lawmakers publicly stating their opposition to Scalise and their support for Jordan. Scalise's holdouts are not united in their opposition, making it challenging for him to secure the necessary votes.[8] The process of electing a new speaker could be grueling, as seen in McCarthy's election earlier this year, which took 15 rounds of voting before he was ultimately elected.[4]
As the Republican Party navigates this leadership battle, there are concerns about the impact on their ability to govern and the perception of voters. The outcome of the speakership race could have significant implications for the future direction of the party and its relationship with Trump's base.
0. “Nancy Mace says she supports Jim Jordan for House speaker” CBS News, 8 Oct. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nancy-mace-jim-jordan-house-speaker-face-the-nation/
1. “Ohio Newspaper Publishes Scathing Rebuke of Jim Jordan: ‘No Worse Human'” Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/ohio-newspaper-publishes-scathing-rebuke-jim-jordan-no-worse-human-1832892
2. “The Hitchhiker's Guide to why Scalise's speaker math may never work and the push to resurrect McCarthy” Fox News, 12 Oct. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hitchhikers-guide-why-scalises-speaker-math-may-never-work-push-resurrect-mccarthy
3. “Donald Trump Endorses Staunch Ally Jim Jordan for House Speaker” Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2023, https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/10/donald-trump-endorses-jim-jordan-house-speaker
4. “What To Know About Steve Scalise—The GOP Nominee For House Speaker” Forbes, 11 Oct. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/10/11/what-to-know-about-steve-scalise-the-gop-nominee-for-house-speaker/
5. “GOP tensions reach a boiling point as Steve Scalise struggles” Axios, 12 Oct. 2023, https://www.axios.com/2023/10/12/steve-scalise-votes-house-speaker-nomination
6. “Trump endorses Jim Jordan for House Speaker” BBC.com, 6 Oct. 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67029759
7. “Jim Jordan Tried to Help Trump Mount a Coup. Now He Gets to Be Speaker? – Mother Jones” Mother Jones, 9 Oct. 2023, https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/10/jim-jordan-speaker-of-the-house-january-6-donald-trump-mount-a-coup/
8. “Is the GOP Too Chaotic to Elect a Speaker?” The New Republic, 12 Oct. 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/176187/can-republican-win-enough-votes-become-speaker
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