In a surprising turn of events, House Republicans find themselves facing a leadership vacuum as they struggle to choose a new speaker. Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s unexpected exit from the speakership race on Thursday night has left the party scrambling to find a suitable candidate. Behind closed doors, GOP lawmakers will convene on Friday morning to consider four amendments to the House Republican Conference Rules that aim to raise the threshold needed to select a candidate for speaker before nomination on the House floor.
Among the proposed amendments, three would require a speaker-elect to have the support of a House-wide majority before a floor vote can take place. This provision is expected to lead to lengthy debates behind closed doors, as a candidate can only afford to lose four GOP backers and still secure victory without Democratic votes. Additionally, amendments put forward by Rep. Chip Roy and Rep. Bill Huizenga would necessitate a Q&A session between the candidate and the conference if the person failed to garner 217 votes on the first round of a secret ballot vote.
Rep. Chip Roy’s amendment suggests that candidates should be allowed a maximum of three chances at a secret ballot vote. If they fail to reach the required 217 votes, alternative candidates will be considered. On the other hand, Rep. Bill Huizenga’s amendment seeks to penalize members who pledge support for a speaker designate during the GOP conference meeting but then vote against them on the House floor. Such lawmakers would face the loss of their committee assignments.
Rep. William Timmons has proposed an amendment to raise the threshold to 218 votes, which also includes a Q&A portion. Unlike Roy’s amendment, Timmons’ does not specify a set number of voting rounds. Lastly, Rep. Kat Cammack’s amendment calls for a speaker designate to win 80% of the conference vote during closed-door sessions.
This development comes after Scalise secured the House GOP’s candidate for speaker position with a simple majority on Wednesday. However, it became evident that he and his supporters had underestimated the breadth of opposition he faced, leading to speculation about a potential full-floor vote on the same day. As of early Friday morning, no candidate has officially declared their candidacy, leaving House Republicans in suspense.
While several names have been floated, including House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, none of them have expressed a direct interest in assuming the gavel themselves. The attention of both Republicans and political observers now lies on the outcome of the upcoming vote.
Elizabeth Elkind, a reporter for Digital specializing in Congress and the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and politics, provided this analysis. Elkind’s previous work can be found in publications such as Daily Mail and CBS News. Stay tuned for the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more political content.
