So here we go again…
Please direct all comments and links regarding the actual VOTING to this thread.
Edit
@TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee provided the live CSpan link!
Thank you!
https://www.c-span.org/video/?531158-1/house-session=&live=
1st vote count is in:
Hakeem Jeffries - 212 (217 needed to win)
Jim Jordan - 200
Steve Scalise - 7
Kevin McCarthy - 6
“Others” - 7
Jordan could have only lost 4 votes, he lost 20.
2nd vote came through, he lost 2 more votes. Will update when I get the actual breakdown.
https://apnews.com/house-speaker-live-updates-day-2
"The final vote was 212 for Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and 199 for Jordan, with others voting for alternatives.
The Ohio congressman lost 22 Republican votes, two more than in the first round and 18 more than he could afford to lose."
Full count here which is not CURRENTLY paywalled:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/10/17/us/politics/house-speaker-vote-tally.html
Jeffries - 212
Jordan - 199
Scalise - 7
McCarthy - 5
Zeldin - 3
“Others” - 7 (one each)
Edit 3rd vote for Thursday has been called off as Jim Jordan now supports expanding the powers of Speaker Pro Temp Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) through January 3rd.
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/speaker-of-house-vote-live-updates-10-19-2023/
It’s unclear when or if THAT vote will go forward as other Republicans oppose it, although it will only take a bare handfull, working with the Democrats, to make it happen.
It’s a long shot, but Moderate Republicans and McCarthy supporters could cast a vote for Democrat Jefferies as a FU to the Freedom Caucus. They would likely be able to get things done as a result.
Honestly, I’m really don’t understand why this didn’t happen last time.
Surely there have to be a few Republicans in Blue leaning districts that just barely got voted in and are at risk of losing their seat next election.
There is just so much to gain by putting country above party under those circumstances.
They’d lose their primaries. Republicans have gotten to the point where if you can win a primary, you can’t win the general unless it’s a red state.
Oh sweet summer child
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That will never happen. It’s much more likely IMHO for Democrats to throw some votes at a moderate Republican to get them over the line. Not Kevin, probably not Steve Scalise.
Becoming Speaker is only part of the story, though. The Speaker sets the agenda (meaning the day’s schedule) but that agenda is subject to a vote and needs a majority every single time. So any Democrats who support a Republican (or vice versa) would have to be relied on to vote in favor of that speaker’s scheduling, otherwise nothing can be scheduled.
Very unlikely to happen
Yes, it is very unlikely to happen, but still more likely than any Republicans voting for Democrats.
The only way one side is voting for the other’s nominee is if they get a deal with some real concessions. I don’t see it happening.
Meanwhile in Canada we just got free (covered) dental care for youth, and will be getting a pharmacare plan because 1 party needed the others support to govern and gave concession.
Imagine what they could actually do in the US if they actually worked together out of this madness.
Edit: There’s gotta be hundreds of things moderates in both parties could agree to as concessions for joint support.
Gotta try this guy at least a dozen times first.
Jeffries was picked by the House Democrats. It’s not a long shot, it’s 100% fever dream impossible that any Republicans would just vote for the Democrat option.
The long shot is getting a group of half moderate Republicans and half moderate Democrats and picking a Republican speaker who is moderate. That’s not going to happen either.
The barely realistic possibility of bipartisan Speaker votes is a few moderate Democrats vote for a Republican candidate.
Jeffries is probably closer than Scalise.
When they finally do a vote, I can see the ranking of Jeffries #1, Scalise #2, whoever else is dumb enough to run #3.
With none of them getting 217, but Jeffries hitting 209 or 210.