118th Congress enters Day 3 with no Speaker
House to reconvene at noon on Thursday
The 118th Congress is entering Day 3, and so is the impasse among House Republicans on electing a new Speaker.
After three more failed votes, the House adjourned with no Speaker for the second day in a row. Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy suffered another series of defeats Wednesday, continuing to fall short of the 218 votes he needs in order to earn the top job on Capitol Hill. We saw nearly all of his critics unite behind a longshot bid by Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican who himself was originally a McCarthy ally.
“The reality is Rep. Kevin McCarthy doesn’t have the votes,” Donalds tweeted on Tuesday. “I committed my support to him publicly and for two votes on the House Floor. 218 is the number, and currently, no one is there.”
The continued stalemate is grinding the business of a sacred institution to a screeching halt. Lawmakers are unable to pass bills, receive committee assignments or even get sworn in until a Speaker is elected.
McCarthy is continuing to make concession after concession to appease his far-right detractors, but it remains to be seen whether they will be enough to seal the deal. It was reported Wednesday that he will allow for one member to call for a vote to oust the Speaker at any time, a key demand of many of his critics. He will also some Freedom Caucus members to serve on the House Rules Committee.
Many Republicans fear that a prolonged fight by McCarthy will only weaken the eventual Speaker, whether it is him or someone else. Former President Donald Trump is continuing to make calls on McCarthy’s behalf. But Rep. Lauren Boebert said Tuesday that it is time for the former President to acknowledge that McCarthy does not have the votes.
What is not clear is who Republicans could nominate if McCarthy drops out of the race. Two of his top deputies: Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, are seen as dark horse contenders.
Some have also floated the idea of Democrats and a handful of moderate Republicans uniting behind a coalition candidate, an idea that Democratic leaders have repeatedly dismissed.
What happens from here is anybody’s guess. But the House is set to cast a seventh ballot for Speaker when they reconvene again at noon on Thursday.
Thankfully, it’s finally over!
That was a televised outing of a true republican.