The House GOP members, in a state of increasing desperation, have chosen their fourth speaker candidate, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.).
What Happened: The selection occurred late Tuesday night, following a prolonged and fruitless search for a leader who can unite the party. This comes amidst growing fears within the GOP that the divide has become irreparable, with no candidate able to gather 217 votes on the floor, Politico reported.
Despite the nomination, there appears to be little optimism within the deeply divided GOP. The unsuccessful hunt for a speaker has stirred talks of readopting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) potentially serving as “assistant speaker.” Others within the GOP are considering ways to bolster acting Speaker Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), potentially without a formal floor vote, a move that could invite constitutional challenges.
"The animosity is high," Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) said.
"My fear is that if we keep doing this somebody is going to side with the Democrats," said Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.).
"Are we screwed? Ask Matt Gaetz that question," said Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), who appeared visibly frustrated, expressing his disapproval by addressing the conservative who initially initiated McCarthy’s historic removal.
Why It Matters: The House Speaker position has remained vacant for more than two weeks following the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Oct. 3. This internal strife within the GOP has hindered legislative proceedings at a particularly challenging time, with global events like the Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine requiring decisive action from the House.
Republicans now intend to hold their next internal roll call vote on Wednesday morning to determine if Johnson can secure the required 217 votes for the speaker position.
Photo Courtesy: Top Vector Studio On Shutterstock.com
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
