House Republicans are feeling pressure to elect a new speaker after weeks of legislative paralysis, but several said it remains to be seen whether a speaker will be chosen this week.
“My guess would be 50-50,” Rep. Nick Larota (RN.Y.) told FOX News Digital Monday night. “There seemed to be less emotion in the room. Less stubbornness, more rationality.”
Republican lawmakers held a speaker candidate forum Monday night ahead of a conference-wide vote on the next gavel nominee. It’s the third such event in the past three weeks, and Tuesday marks three weeks since the historic ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the most high-profile House Republicans after Mr. McCarthy, are both needed in the race. After failing to attract 217 Republicans, he was forced to withdraw from the campaign. victory.
The chaotic and complicated path Republicans took to elect a speaker is back to square one.
Whip Tom Emmer (left), MP Byron Donald (centre) and RSC chairman Kevin Hearn (right) are all running for Speaker of the House of Commons.
While some Republicans left Monday feeling optimistic, others were hesitant to say the political spectacle was enough to unite a deeply divided Republican conference.
“I want it. I don’t know. Because there are 221 people in this place who have been here a long time and have their own ideas about what the priorities should be. ,” Rep. Jake Elsey (R-Texas), who did not support Jordan, told Fox News Digital.
Jeffries, Democrats sit calm amid House chaos
Meanwhile, Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-Texas) indicated that no one can make any conclusions at this point about what will happen on Tuesday, but that a chair will ultimately be chosen. “I hope,” he said.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (left) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (right) were previously nominated for Speaker of the House, but were forced to withdraw from the race. (Getty Images)
“I’m sure you will. If you haven’t, ask me that question next week,” Williams said. “We’re going through that process, so we’ll see. Hopefully tomorrow I can come out with someone and be on the floor with them. But we’ll see.”
House Republicans originally planned to hear from nine different speaker candidates. One of them, Congressman Dan Meuser, left his seat immediately after his opening speech and told reporters he was withdrawing from the race. “Ultimately I felt it was in my best interest. I was late. I have other commitments to keep,” he said.
Why didn’t Jordan get the speaker’s gavel after failing to vote three times?
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., said he was “cautiously optimistic” that a speaker would be found soon and that his colleagues had expressed “agreement that we have to get back to work.”
“There was a very peaceful atmosphere tonight. I think it’s the first time there’s been such a peaceful atmosphere among the members,” Zinke told Fox News Digital. “There was definitely less hostility and it seemed like there was a little bit more calm.”
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted three weeks ago. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“That tone tonight actually made me cautiously optimistic that I would be able to finish speaking this week,” Zinke added.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) said “complete exhaustion” within the Republican conference would help end the turmoil.
“I don’t know anyone who wants this to go on longer than tomorrow, literally, regardless of who they support,” Fallon said, adding that voters should “get this done today. I want it,” he added.
