Electing a speaker is typically a symbolic moment, with the vote decided weeks if not months ahead of time. But absent a sudden flip among his detractors, McCarthy’s bid for the gavel will prompt a historically rare showdown, marking just the second time since the Civil War that the race could go beyond one ballot. In fact, many Republicans are bracing for votes that could last multiple days, as McCarthy’s allies vow to only vote for him and five conservatives promise to oppose him, with no clear alternative candidate.
So what happens if Republicans don’t fall in line ?
A couple of weeks ago there was a rumor that Jim Jordan was busy making phone calls.
What is scary is the what if McCarthy has to make a lot of concussions to the loonies. That could turn out to be really bad.
If McCarthy was smart, he might try a bipartisan approach to getting the votes he needed - i.e. working with moderate democrats to see if he could secure their votes in exchange for stuff that would benefit them.
But, since McCarthy is kowtowing to the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene and the as yet unseated incoming member with the major credibility problems, I find it hard to believe he would actually try something smart.
Link to the live feeds of both the House and Senate, when proceedings commence at noon Eastern Standard Time tomorrow.
Nothing out of the ordinary expected to happen on the Senate side. Certificates of election will be read and new and returning Senators will be sworn in. A live quorum will be held.
Patty Murray will be elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Officers of the Senate will be elected. A few routine resolutions will pass. Nothing of a legislative nature is likely to happen in the Senate until the end of January or early February.
On the House side, the outgoing Clerk of the House Cheryl L. Johnson will call the House to order and lay before the House the certificates of election. A quorum call will be held. The nominations for Speaker will be made. The House will then hold its 1st ballot for Speaker. If McCarthy clears the necessary majority, fine. If not, the Clerk will likely direct a 2nd ballot.
Unless and until McCarthy or another member is elected Speaker, Clerk Johnson is essentially in overall charge of the House of Representatives. No committees can organize. No legislative business can occur. No investigations can be conducted.
One big reason is Gaetz, who has been perhaps the most vocal opponent of a McCarthy speakership. Gaetz and a handful of other House Republicans have said they won’t support him.
McCarthy has already set up shop in the speaker’s office at the Capitol. On Monday, he met with Gaetz, who emerged to say he hasn’t budged. In a video posted on Twitter by Haley Talbot of NBC News, he called it “a brief and productive discussion.”
“How was it productive?” a reporter asked.
“Insofar that it was brief,” replied Gaetz, who was flanked by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), another fierce McCarthy critic.
Asked to elaborate, he declined.
“Has he won your support yet, congressman?” asked Robert Costa of CBS News.
Hmmm I thought this was going to get sorted out with major concessions by McCarthy but lots of reports that he still doesn’t have the votes.
I think the MAGA folks got the biggest thing they wanted - which was to allow for just five members to call for a no confidence vote of the Speaker at any time. They of course want endless Biden investigations but that doesn’t seem a bridge too far for McCarthy.
