A functioning three armed government is an essential requisite of a democracy. The executive, legislature and judiciary must be effective for the wheels of governance to be oiled.

However, for three whole weeks and counting, America’s bicameral legislature has been at a standstill as the House of Representatives is devoid of a Speaker.

The quest to find a worthy wielder of the gavel has left many lawmakers exhausted as they keep running in circles. One minute, there’s a speaker nominee, the next minute, there is none.

The vacant Speaker’s chair is a testament of disarray and infighting of the slim majority holders in the House; Republicans. Hardline member and the far-right are unable or should I say, unwilling to compromise on a nomine.

Republicans’ disarray has left lawmakers unable to respond to the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, or take steps to head off a looming government shutdown.

The federal government risks a shutdown in a matter of weeks if Congress fails to pass funding legislation by a Nov. 17 deadline to keep services and offices running.

217 votes now stands between Rep. Mike Johnson and the coveted post of U.S House Speaker.

Mike Johnson of Louisiana was nominated by Republican lawmakers to be House Speaker late Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

Johnson is the fourth Republican this month to win the party’s nomination for the Speakership post.

With 128 votes, Johnson triumphed over Byron Donalds, Mark Green, Roger Williams and Chuck Fleischmann in the latest Republican speaker nomination fight.

In total, 14 Republicans have put their names forward for speaker this month.

Surprisingly, Kevin McCarthy, who was not on the ballot, won 43 votes.

Johnson has billed himself as a bridge builder between the various Republican factions. It remains to be seen if his bridge building skills will help him to garner 217 votes.

“He knows everybody very well, does a great job with bringing people to the floor, talking about our policies, and that’s what we need right now,” said Kevin Hern, who withdrew his own bid to support Johnson.

Tom Emmer Withdraws Speakership Bid

Hours after getting nominated by majority of the conference, Tom Emmer became the third Republican to withdraw from the speakership.

Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan previously launched unsuccessful efforts.

Emmer abruptly withdrew amid opposition from former U.S President, Donald Trump and hardline Republican lawmakers.

Though he won the nomination, 26 members said they would vote against Emmer in a floor vote, leaving him far short of 217 votes that will be needed during a House floor tally ahead.

Republicans hold a slim majority of 221 in the House, which means a nominee can only afford to lose 4 votes to be elected speaker.

Donald Trump publicly came out against Emmer’s candidacy on Tuesday afternoon.

“I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors,” Trump said in a statement posted on Truth Social, his social media network.

“RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement, or the breadth and scope of MAGA-MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! He fought me all the way.”
Donald Trump

Unlike many of his colleagues, Emmer voted to certify the 2020 election in Congress.

After his withdrawal, Emmer said later at the Capitol that Trump’s opposition did not affect his decision to bow out.

“I made my decision based on my relationship with the conference,” he said, referring to the GOP majority. He said he would support whomever emerges as the new nominee. “We’ll get it done.”

It was not clear whether Johnson would be able to overcome divisions that have tripped up three other candidates who had previously won the party’s nomination.

With a House floor vote expected on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, Johnson will need almost all Republicans to win the gavel.