SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – Republican rep. Kevin McCarthy has lost six separate votes for speaker of the House, marking the first time in 100 years that the majority party has failed to unite behind a candidate.
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Jack Pitney, Professor of American Politics at Claremont McKenna College, said this inaction signals further discourse over the next two years in the House.
"It's going to be very difficult," Pitney told KCBS Radio. "We don't know if Kevin McCarthy will be the speaker, or perhaps another Republican, but whoever comes out of this process is going to have an extremely difficult time leading the chamber with a narrow majority."
The House of Representatives moved to adjourn Tuesday afternoon after McCarthy failed to secure the support and then started up again Wednesday. But after six unsuccessful votes, McCarthy was still unelected.
If McCarthy doesn't become speaker, Pitney said it will seriously hurt the rep's political career. "If he doesn't pull this thing off he will remain a member of Congress, he will continue to be able to raise a certain amount of money, but if this turns out badly for him, that's effectively the end of his political career," he explained.
The names of other potential candidates have been floated instead of McCarthy, including Steve Scalise from Louisiana and Jim Jordan from Ohio.
"Very possible that he could do it, but he is currently supporting McCarthy," Pitney said, speaking of Scalise. Pitney was less convinced that Jordan would be the top choice. "Jordan is also going to have a great deal of influence. He's probably not going to become the speaker out of this process, but he is going to chair the House Judiciary Committee," Pitney added.
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