- The Washington Times - Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Hours after Rep. Jim Jordan’s failed bid to win the speaker’s gavel on Tuesday, Republicans and Democrats are weighing a plan to give Rep. Patrick McHenry the power to serve temporarily as House speaker while the GOP grapples with a weeks-long stalemate over its leadership. 

Mr. McHenry was appointed emergency speaker on Oct. 3 but under the rules of the House, only an elected speaker can conduct legislative business. As an appointed speaker, Mr. McHenry’s power is limited and includes opening and gaveling out the House and conducting elections for speaker.

As the House enters a third week paralyzed by a leadership vacuum, some lawmakers want to hold a vote to elect him speaker on a temporary basis.

“Do I think that we should at least in the meantime look for a way to move our agenda forward? I think that’s probably a very prudent, smart move,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida Republican, said.

Several Democrats are also interested in giving Mr. McHenry a temporary power boost. But it’s not clear whether the GOP leadership and enough Republican lawmakers would agree to such a move, which would require a change in the House rules. The GOP controls the floor, through Mr. McHenry.

The House has been rendered useless since Oct. 3, when a group of eight conservatives voted with all Democrats to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy, California Republican. 


SEE ALSO: Jordan comes up short on the first vote for speaker


Two Republicans, Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Mr. Jordan have failed to garner the 217 Republicans needed to win a speaker election on the House floor. Mr. Jordan came up 17 votes short in a Tuesday afternoon vote. He later huddled in the Capitol with holdouts, trying to win their support for a second ballot. A second vote for speaker could take place later Tuesday. 

Jordan allies downplayed the idea of elevating Mr. McHenry. Instead, they want to coerce the holdouts, using the shuttered House floor and social media as pressure tactics.

“We’ve just got to work through this,” Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Republican and Jordan supporter, said. “We have to do our job, as painful as it is.”

Ex-Rep. Trey Gowdy, South Carolina Republican, said Mr. Jordan may have difficulty flipping the 17 holdouts, which would leave the GOP without any immediate candidate who can win the election and open the floor for business. 

“You’ll see Patrick McHenry until January,” Mr. Gowdy predicted on Fox. 

• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.

• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.

• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.

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