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The 118th Congress is currently in session, and voting for a new House Speaker has just begun. Republican Kevin McCarthy and Democrat Representative Hakeem Jeffries are leading the poll.
Representative Andy Biggs, a Republican, is one of the additional candidates for House Speaker. To become Speaker of the House, a candidate must receive a majority of votes. The threshold may, however, go down based on how each Congressman votes.
Each member of Congress will be called individually, at which point they will announce their preference for the House Speaker. Their name, a name from each party’s nominee, or any other name currently serving in Congress might all be used. When a member declares themselves “present,” their vote won’t be counted and will be automatically subtracted from the required majority.
The voting process will continue until a majority vote is obtained if no candidate receives a majority of the votes. For instance, nine rounds of voting took place until a House Speaker was chosen in the 1923 election. And throughout a two-month period in 1869, there were 60 rounds of voting.
Congress may decide to take a break before voting resumes in the case of a protracted election. However, the House cannot go on to other issues until a Speaker is chosen.
McCarthy (GOP) and Jeffries (Democrat) are the two candidates for representative, and they are in the thick of the vote. GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik approved McCarthy’s bid for House Speaker. The Democratic Party’s candidate for House Speaker, Pete Aguilar, contacted Jeffries while still sitting in his chair.
“We are unified behind a speaker who is an unapologetic advocate for protecting and expanding our freedom. He does not traffic in extremism. He does not grovel to or make excuses for a twice-impeached so-called former president. Madam clerk, he does not bend a knee to anyone who would seek to undermine our democracy,” Aguilar said.
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McCarthy wants to be House Speaker
Following a meeting with GOP lawmakers before the commencement of the 118th Congress, McCarthy addressed the media and declared his candidacy for House Speaker. He criticizes opponents and asserts that he will run for House Speaker for the good of the nation rather than for himself.
“There’s times we’re going to have to argue with our own members if they’re looking out for only positions for themselves, not for the country. For the last two months, we worked together as a whole conference to develop rules that empower all members, but we’re not empowering certain members over others,” McCarthy said.
“I was presented the only way to have 218 votes — if I provided certain members with certain positions, certain gavels to take over the certain committee to have certain budgets. And they even came to the position where one Matt Gaetz said, ‘I don’t care if we go to plurality and we elect Hakeem Jeffries,’ and it hurts the new frontline members not to get reelected,” he added.
“Well, that’s not about America, and I will always fight to put the American people first. Not a few individuals want something for themselves. So we may have a battle on the floor. But the battle is for the conference and the country, and that’s fine with me.”
“I have the record for the longest speech ever on the floor. I don’t have a problem getting a record for the most votes for speaker.”
There were rumors that McCarthy would not be able to garner the necessary votes to become House Speaker. Rep. Steve Scalise, the GOP’s second-place contender, may take McCarthy’s position as House Speaker if the race goes to a second round. But Scalise has already said that he backs McCarthy.
“Steve is trying to be very supportive. He has been public that he is supporting McCarthy. I think someday he wants to be speaker, so he’s got to be tactful,” said Representative Don Bacon.
“I think Steve Scalise is going to have some problems. If Kevin McCarthy doesn’t become speaker, then Steve Scalise has faint fingerprints on the dagger,” added a GOP member.
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The Democratic Party throws support to Jeffries
Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, made her intention to step down as the Democratic Party’s chief executive official public some months ago. So she ruled out any chance of keeping her position as House Speaker. Members of the Democratic Party openly backed Jeffries when Pelosi announced her retirement, stating their belief that he would be the ideal replacement for Pelosi.
“If she steps aside, I’m very clear that Hakeem Jeffries is the person I will be voting for and leading the Congressional Black Caucus to vote for. Of course, I don’t always speak for everybody, but I’m very comfortable saying I believe that every member of the Congressional Black Caucus would vote for Hakeem Jeffries,” said Ohio representative Joyce Beatty.
“Nonetheless, a great deal is at stake because we’ll be in a presidential election. So my decision will again be rooted in the wishes of my family and the wishes of my caucus. But none of it will be very much considered until we see what the outcome of all of this is. And there are all kinds of ways to exert influence,” she added.
Opinions expressed by Texas Today contributors are their own.
