Leaderless US House braces for chaotic speaker election

By Frankie Taggart

Washington, United States — The race to replace the ousted Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives intensifies this week amid questions over whether anyone can unify the chaotic party’s warring factions.

Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a stunning mutiny last week orchestrated by the far right, leaving efforts to avert a looming government funding shutdown in a tailspin.

It also raised serious questions over the future of US military aid to Ukraine and, more immediately, over Congress’ ability to respond quickly to a crisis like the weekend attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

Bracing for more of the disarray that marked McCarthy’s eviction, House Republicans are due to host a “candidate forum” Tuesday to pick their new standard-bearer, followed by a vote behind closed doors Wednesday.

The speaker must be approved by a majority of the 433-member full House, however — with both Democrats and Republicans voting — and there is no timeline for a floor vote, leaving the lower chamber in limbo.

Two declared candidates — McCarthy’s longtime deputy Steve Scalise and firebrand Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan — have been furiously working to lock in support, but a clear frontrunner is yet to emerge.

And the attack by Hamas that left at least 700 Israelis dead has prompted speculation about whether a leaderless Congress is able to react to a crisis.

If neither Jordan nor Scalise can get the support of 217 Republicans, the lower chamber could temporarily approve full speaker powers for Patrick McHenry, who has the job on a caretaker basis but is so far restricted to ceremonial duties.

Some lawmakers want to reelect McCarthy, who did not rule out returning to the post during a lengthy news conference on Monday.

“That’s a decision by the conference, I’ll allow the conference to make whatever decision. Whether I’m speaker or not, I’m a member of this body,” he said, deflecting further questions about whom he would support if it wasn’t him.

However, none of the eight conservative lawmakers who joined Democrats to oust McCarthy last week has indicated that they would reconsider their objections to his leadership.

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