In a surprising turn of events, members of the House Freedom Caucus are demanding that Congress remain in session until a new speaker is elected, following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy. After three rounds of failed votes, House Republicans voted to remove Rep. Jim Jordan as their nominee for speaker of the House. This move has left Republicans starting at ground zero and searching for a new candidate.
The House Freedom Caucus, led by Rep. Scott Perry, R-PA, is urging House leadership to keep Republicans in Washington until a new speaker is selected. They argue that intentional and unnecessary delays must end, and the party must proceed with all possible speed and determination.
“The lobbyists of the swamp and defenders of the status quo” are being blamed for dragging out the process and hindering progress. The House Freedom Caucus believes that the House Republican Conference must remain in Washington until a new speaker is elected. They expressed disappointment that Republican leadership did not keep Republicans in Washington over the weekend, emphasizing that their work is far from done.
The demand for a new speaker comes after a closed-door meeting on Friday, where Jordan failed to garner enough support on a third ballot. Twenty-five Republicans voted for someone other than Jordan, and three lawmakers who had previously supported him switched their votes against him.
Nine Republicans have emerged as official candidates to replace McCarthy as House speaker. Among them are Kevin Hern, R-Okla., who was one of the first GOP lawmakers to announce his candidacy, and retired Marine Corps Gen. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., who entered the race after receiving calls from across the GOP spectrum. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who was named by GOP lawmakers during Jordan’s bid, is also running for speaker, along with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Reps. Mike Johnson, R-La.; Austin Scott, R-Ga.; Pete Sessions, R-Texas; Dan Meuser, R-Penn.; and Gary Palmer, R-Ala.
The House Republicans are set to meet on Monday night to discuss a path forward and hear from the speaker candidates. However, the next floor vote on the prospective nominee is not expected until Tuesday, raising concerns about further delays.
This unexpected turn of events has sparked intense speculation and anticipation as Republicans scramble to find a new leader. The outcome of this election will undoubtedly have significant implications for the future direction of the party and its ability to advance its agenda.
Brooke Singman, a digital politics reporter, contributed to this report.
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