POLITICS
House Republicans To Hear From 9 Speaker Candidates In Monday Forum
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As the House of Representatives approaches a fourth week without a speaker, Republicans are expected to meet Monday evening to choose one of the nine candidates now running, after Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio withdrew from consideration.
Jordan, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and one of the leaders of the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, failed to secure a majority in three rounds of voting, widening his margin in each round as more than 20 Republicans voted for alternative candidates.
At the forum on Monday, Republicans will hear from the candidates, but its unclear whether any will have the support necessary to take a majority of votes in the full House.
Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the House majority whip, has the support of the last speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted by just a handful of Republicans. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) filed a motion to vacate the chair, forcing a historic vote on whether to keep McCarthy, which he lost 216–210. He was the first House speaker in U.S. history to be removed by a floor vote.
Other candidates include Rep. Jack Bergman of Michigan; Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma; Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida; Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia; Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas; Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana; Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama; and Rep. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania.
Without an elected speaker, the House cannot pass any legislation, including international aid, as war in Israel continues into its third week. Biden on Friday asked Congress for an unprecedented aid package including more than $14 billion in military aid for Israel and more than $61 billion for Ukraine.
McCarthy had struggled to unite House Republicans behind a budget deal to avoid a government shutdown, as the more conservative flank led by Gaetz pushed for deep domestic spending cuts and objected to sending more aid to Ukraine, which continues to fight off a Russian invasion that began last year.
The continuing resolution that was passed to keep the government open temporarily will expire on Nov. 17, threatening a shutdown if a budget deal is not passed in time.
Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina remains interim speaker, with limited powers, until a speaker is elected.
TMX contributed to this article.
