A week after Kevin McCarthy’s unprecedented ouster, Republicans are slated to begin the process of choosing his replacement as speaker of the House on Wednesday.
The conference will meet behind closed doors and is expected to cast an initial vote for a nominee. Republicans seem determined to avoid another marathon of public votes – like the 15 rounds it took for McCarthy to secure the gavel in January – and instead come to a consensus privately. Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan are both vying for the job, but heading into Wednesday’s meeting, neither had enough support to win a majority on the House floor.
Whoever becomes House speaker will take office facing a new war in the Middle East and another looming government funding deadline. And they will still be working with a razor-thin majority to pass any major legislation.
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