House Speaker Election: After relentless attempts to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position, House Representatives have finally succeeded, marking an unknown territory for the Republican Party, thanks to Democratic support.
A proposal titled ‘Vacancy Filling Proposal,’ aimed at clearing the position was passed on Tuesday with the support of eight Republicans and all voting Democrats, including Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida.
The vote made McCarthy the first House Speaker in history to be removed from his post, a bitter blow that came after less than a year on the job.
California Republicans immediately announced they won’t be running for the position again.
This surprising outcome has left both party members stunned, wondering about the future of the House Speaker role in the Republican Party.
Who’s Next in Line in House Speaker Election:
Immediately after the vote, McCarthy’s close ally Patrick T. McHenry (R-NC) was appointed as the interim House Speaker.
He was chosen from the list that includes members capable of filling the chair in the absence of a Speaker.
When McCarthy was first elected House Speaker in January, he handed over the private list to the House Clerk.
While McHenry can serve temporarily, he lacks the full authority of a duly elected Speaker.
Only those considered “necessary and proper,” as per the rules, can be chosen for the position.
McHenry won’t have the power to bring legislation to the floor or sign off on any other official House duties that require the Speaker‘s approval.
What’s Next in the House Speaker Election?
The first order of business for McHenry will be to conduct an election for a new Speaker.
So far, it remains unclear who the House Republicans will nominate for the position.
Some members left the chamber after voting for McCarthy on Tuesday, intending to vote for him again until he withdrew.
Now that he’s out of the running, the field is open for any Republican to jump in.
Discussions are underway about potential consensus candidates, such as Representative Steve Scalise or Whip Tom Emmer, viewed as likely contenders to unite the conference.
Other names being floated include Representative Kevin Hern, the chair of the Republican Study Committee, and Representative Jim Jordan, a favorite among the party’s right-wing faction.
Once Republicans decide on their nominee for House Speaker, the House will have to vote as many times as necessary until a candidate is present and secures a majority of votes.
This could pose a challenge, as seen in January when it took an unprecedented 15 rounds before McCarthy secured the gavel.
Other Roles during House Speaker Election:
Once the Speaker nominee secures a majority, the Clerk will announce the results.
During the general Speaker election, which occurs at the beginning of every Congress, a bipartisan committee, typically consisting of members from the home states of the chosen candidate, escorts the elected Speaker to the rostrum, where the oath is administered.
This oath is similar to the one newly elected members take.
It’s not clear if this same procedure will be followed in this case.
Traditionally, minority leaders are involved in the Speaker‘s succession process, where they agree on the operational relationships between the two parties.
So, What Now amidst of House Speaker Election:
McCarthy’s close ally, Representative Patrick T. McHenry (R-NC), will serve as the Speaker temporarily.
According to the House rules, McHenry was listed as the first candidate in the possible stand-in list immediately after McCarthy was elected Speaker.
“Before moving forward with the Speaker election, it would be wise to give relevant caucuses and conferences time to meet and discuss the way forward,” stated McHenry, emphasizing the need for careful deliberation.
Regarding government funding, the passed proposal provides funding for approximately seven weeks, delaying the possible shutdown until mid-November.
The bill does not include funding for Ukraine, something President Biden hopes to address through a supplemental measure.
Congress still needs to pass a comprehensive budget package that can satisfy both sides of the aisle.
The House has to conduct a Speaker election, pass a funding bill, and resolve any differences with the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The road ahead appears challenging, much like the January deadlock when it took 15 unprecedented rounds for McCarthy to emerge victorious.
Conclusion
The ousting of Speaker McCarthy has thrown the House into unprecedented territory.
As Republicans scramble to find a new leader, the future remains uncertain.
It’s a waiting game to see who steps up, how smoothly the election process unfolds, and how both parties navigate the complexities of governance in the coming weeks.