Contains Opinion of the Writer

House of Representatives adjourned Tuesday after failing to elect a Speaker after three ballots were conducted and no candidate won the majority of votes. Republican California Rep. Kevin McCarthy needed 218 votes to win the position, with 222 Republicans in the House and 212 Democrats, who all voted for Democratic New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

Many in the senate oppose McCarthy as House Speaker because they do not trust him. However, his failure to take the Speakership on the first round of voting has not occurred in one hundred years.

There were two specific names passed around as potential House Speakers, Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, and Arizona Republican Andy Biggs. However, Jim Jordan had indicated he was not interested in the position and cast his vote for McCarthy. On the other hand, Rep Bigs was willing to take the position and publicly opposed McCarthy.

Rep. Matt Gaetz is correct in all he says about Jim Jordan. Rep. Jim Jordan is a trustworthy rep. Everything I have seen and heard from him makes me like him more. I hope votes for Jim Jordan rise, and he is the new speaker. I think he would take the position if he saw that he was the one the Republicans wanted and trusted. But I could be wrong.

The thought was that McCarthy had to win over at least one of his five most vigorous opponents, Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Bob Good (Va.), Ralph Norman (S.C.), and Matt Rosendale (Mont.). He failed to win even one of them.

The unfortunate result of failing to elect a House Leader is without a Speaker, the presiding officer, and the institution’s administrative head, nothing will get accomplished. “Swearing in members, naming committee chairs, engaging in floor proceedings, and launching oversight investigations will all be delayed until a speaker is elected and sworn into office. – AP

The Republicans will vote again on Wednesday.