House Republicans are facing divisions within their party as they search for a new speaker, a position that is second in line to the presidency. The two declared candidates, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, must demonstrate their ability to control or co-opt the hardliners in their party who ousted Kevin McCarthy last week. This internal conflict is damaging the image of the United States, making it appear as though it cannot govern itself or lead in a world in turmoil. The gravity of outside events, such as the crises in Israel and Ukraine, should be pushing the GOP to resolve its internal issues, but doubts remain about whether Scalise or Jordan can win enough support from the Republican conference in a full House vote.
The dysfunction within the GOP is not only detrimental to their own party but also has consequences for the country as a whole. Time is running out to prevent another government shutdown, and if the House remains paralyzed, it will impair the US’s ability to respond to global crises. The House GOP’s inability to pass an aid package for Ukraine could also have dire consequences for the country’s sovereignty. The fault line within the party remains the same: far-right Republicans demand massive spending cuts without acknowledging the need to compromise with Democrats who hold control of the Senate and the White House. It remains to be seen whether Scalise or Jordan can unite enough of their party to be successful in a full floor vote, and there is even the possibility for a compromise candidate to emerge if neither can gain sufficient support.
Regardless of who becomes speaker, they will face immense pressure and challenges due to the tight majority in the House and the divided balance of power in Washington. They will have to decide whether to amend the rule that allows any member to call a vote to oust the speaker, a concession that McCarthy had made to the hardliners in the party. Additionally, another government shutdown looms if Congress does not pass more funding by November 17. The outcome of these challenges will have implications for the functioning of the US government and the ability to provide long-term governance.
