House Republicans Seek Speaker Amid Uncertainty Over Leadership

House Republicans find themselves in a state of uncertainty as they attempt to select a new speaker following the historic removal of Kevin McCarthy from the position. Reps. Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise are currently competing for the role, but some members are still holding out hope for McCarthy’s reinstatement.

The recent meeting among House Republicans was described as a listening session, where members discussed McCarthy’s ouster from the speakership and deliberated on the path forward as a group. The urgency to elect a new speaker this week has been intensified by the recent attack on Israel by Hamas, which has already claimed over 1,500 lives in both Israeli and Palestinian communities.

To avoid a lengthy and contentious vote, similar to the one McCarthy faced in January, the conference is considering the possibility of reaching a unanimous agreement on a single candidate. However, despite Jordan’s lead in public endorsements, it remains uncertain whether the speaker battle can be swiftly resolved by Wednesday.

Amid pressing concerns about the situation in Israel, some members, like Rep. Max Miller from Ohio, have suggested postponing the decision for another week to ensure a more thoughtful selection process. Miller, who is of Jewish descent, emphasized the importance of addressing the ongoing crisis in Israel while also selecting a new speaker.

During the conference meeting, a few members raised the idea of reinstating Kevin McCarthy as speaker. However, Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy last week, expressed doubt about McCarthy’s intentions, believing that he would uphold his word not to seek the gavel again.

McCarthy, on the other hand, has not ruled out the possibility of making another bid for the speakership. He emphasized that the decision ultimately lies with the GOP conference. He also pointed out the need for the party to take measures to prevent the future removal of a speaker by a small faction of the conference.

Currently, a single member can bring a motion to vacate the chair, as was the case with Rep. Matt Gaetz’s resolution last week. McCarthy has criticized this system, emphasizing that such actions have consequences and hinder effective governance. He stated that it is essential for the party to decide whether it wants a conservative leader who can effectively govern.

Notably, Rep. Tom McClintock of California, among others, publicly called for McCarthy’s reinstatement, arguing that no other candidate is likely to win more than 96% of the GOP conference’s vote. He urged those who voted to remove McCarthy to reconsider their decision and “repair the damage before it is too late.”

Some members, such as Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida and Rep. Marc Molinaro of New York, expressed their support for McCarthy as the speaker. They believe that McCarthy has earned their trust and could effectively lead the party. The ongoing events have prompted a reconsideration of the political landscape, and some members view McCarthy’s reinstatement as a viable solution.

The complex situation in Israel further underscored the urgency of the decision. Rep. John Duarte of California suggested that a brief window might be all that’s needed in the House to reinstate Kevin McCarthy and alter the rule.

In his remarks, McCarthy criticized President Biden for what he perceived as a weakening of the United States and an appeasement policy that emboldened Iran, which has been a significant supporter of Hamas. He called for decisive actions, including rescuing American hostages, aiding Israel, increasing sanctions on Iran, and addressing intelligence failures. He also called out Democrats for not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism within their ranks.

In summary, House Republicans are navigating a complex path as they seek a new speaker while contending with the aftermath of McCarthy’s removal and international events that have heightened the urgency of their decision. The choice between Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise remains uncertain, and the possibility of McCarthy’s return is still in the air.