House Republicans in disarray. House Democrats in array.
Yesterday House Democrats announced that they had unanimously elected Hakeem Jeffries as their new leader. Jeffries was already firmly established as Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s heir apparent, so his election wasn’t surprising. It’s the unanimous part that was… actually come to think of it, that part wasn’t surprising either. Pelosi has taught these House Democrats the importance of solidarity.
Even as this was playing out, House Republicans – who have the majority and should be focused on how to use it – were instead falling even further into disarray. Current House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy does not have the votes to become Speaker of the House, and depending on who you want to believe, could have as many as twenty firm “no” votes within his own caucus. That’s a tough hurdle when you only have a four seat majority.
We’ll see what happens. But if House Republicans can’t find 218 votes for McCarthy, then they won’t be able to find 218 votes for some other more polarizing figure like Marjorie Taylor Greene either. It’s McCarthy or bust for them. The only thing that might save McCarthy is if House Republicans get scared after they see House Democrats nominate someone like Liz Cheney for Speaker, with the support of four or more House Republicans representing moderate districts. Maybe that’ll be enough for the rest of the House Republicans to reluctantly unite behind McCarthy. Maybe.
Even as we wait for this process to play out, the point is this: there could not be more of a contrast between House Republicans and House Democrats right now when it comes to unity. House Democrats each have their own views and voices, but they just unanimously elected a new leader for the post-Pelosi era. House Republicans are in total disarray, and will spend the next two years humiliating themselves even if they do ever manage to name a Speaker. It’s as if House Republicans, like the rest of us, wish they hadn’t won the majority at all.
