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In a stunning confirmation of the deep divisions within the “Republican” party, the newly installed GOP majority in the U.S. House of Representatives failed to elect a new leader on the first three ballots.
The historic setbacks marked only the second time since the War Between the States that a ruling party in the House failed to nominate a leader on the first ballot. As a result, the GOP will have to wait until it can muster sufficient support for a speaker candidate before its members can begin acting as a check against the administration of Joe Biden and the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate.
Also, expect Democrats to seize upon the divisions within the party in the hopes of checking that “check.”
On the first ballot, nineteen GOP members voted against the speakership of Kevin McCarthy – a California moderate who has spent the past four years as minority leader in a Democratic-controlled House. The defections left McCarthy fifteen votes shy of the majority he needed to secure this post.
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A second vote was held shortly thereafter following an impassioned floor speech from conservative lawmaker Jim Jordan of Ohio – who received six votes on the first ballot.
“I think Kevin McCarthy is the right guy to lead us,” Jordan said. “I really do, or I wouldn’t be standing up here giving this speech.”
Once again, though, McCarthy came up short on the second ballot – losing nineteen GOP members and falling fifteen votes shy of his goal. This time, all nineteen defectors voted for Jordan.
“I think it’s going to be increasingly clear that he’s not going to be speaker,” Bob Good of Virginia told reporters after the second vote. “We will never cave.”
McCarthy made it clear he had no intention of caving, either.
“We have certain members right now who think they can use a small majority to get themselves the gavel,” he told reporters. “That’s not how it works.”
Is it, though?
By the time the third ballot was counted, McCarthy was clearly losing momentum – with 20 defectors now voting against his bid. Second-term congressman Byron Donalds of Florida joined the nineteen GOP members who opposed McCarthy on the first two ballots.
“Republicans” hold 222 seats following the 2022 elections – in which an expected “red wave” failed to materialize. Democrats hold 212 seats but are expected to pick up one additional seat after a February 21 special election to fill the Virginia seat vacated by the November 28, 2022 passing of Donald McEachin.
All but one member of the South Carolina GOP congressional delegation – fifth district congressman Ralph Norman of Rock Hill, S.C. – voted for McCarthy on both of the first two ballots.
Norman previously told his colleagues he would “vote for Mickey Mouse” before he voted for McCarthy.
Why does this matter?
Well, nothing can happen in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 118th Congress until a new speaker is chosen. That includes new members – including South Carolina seventh district representative-elect Russell Fry – being sworn in.
The scene that unfolded in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday had not happened since 1923 – when it took nine votes for the U.S. House to elect Massachusetts Republican Frederick Huntington Gillett as speaker.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. And yes, he has an incredible hat collection including that Tampa Bay Rays sunburst batting practice lid.
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BANNER VIA: Gage Skidmore
8 comments
Republicans absolutely bombed the election, and the one prize they did win is going to be fumbled repeatedly. Absolutely hilarious. The entire world is laughing at the GOP today, and at this rate, probably for several days.
This is what happens when the GOP propagandizes their base and courts crazies, you get a slapfight over an establishment slimeball and Gym freaking Jordan. Shame, shame, shame…
There is no honor among thieves. There are no Republicans capable of winning who have the integrity to be a leader. How do you support someone you can’t trust? McCarthy is spineless and Jordan is a liar with no morals. The Republican leadership sold their soul to a conman and supported him in his election lie, and his attempted Coup. The Jan 6 committee got all of their emails, and proved they all knew Trump was lying and supported him anyway; including our own Ralph Norman who wanted Trump to suspend the Constitution and make himself a military dictator. They deserve this. The country is better off with them fighting, than plotting another coup.
Talking about a global embarrassment . I can’t get off the stage. I have mashed potatos for brains
“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed…….and we will deserve it.”
Lindsey Graham
5:03 PM · May 3, 2016
Ralph Norman is a solid beacon of conservatism! I am proud that he represents us! God bless you Mr Norman!
There is nothing conservative about calling on the President of the United States to suspend the Constitution and declare himself a military dictator. Because that is what Martial Law is. In the past it has only been used in extreme cases. such as a a disaster where local law enforcement has broken down. What Ralph called far was noting less than Donald Trump using the military to seize control of the government and declare himself President overriding the will of the American People. That is as far away from small government as you can get, and one of the things our Founding Fathers feared most.
Ralph Norman should be removed from office under the insurrection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
i actually like this it shows the republican party doesnt goose step i mean go lock step like their anti american counterpart