Rep. Mike Johnson is set to take his fight for the speakership to the House floor amid uncertainty over whether he can secure the 217 votes needed to win the gavel. After a chaotic day that saw multiple nominees drop out, Johnson secured the nomination for the speakership. However, the GOP conference remains under pressure as the House remains paralyzed without a speaker, and it is unclear whether any candidate can win the gavel in the aftermath of Kevin McCarthy's ouster. Johnson can only afford to lose four votes on the floor, creating uncertainty over his chances.
The GOP leadership crisis deepens as House Republicans struggle to elect a new speaker, leaving the chamber paralyzed and raising concerns over the ability to address major international and domestic issues. Majority Leader Steve Scalise abruptly withdrew from the speaker's race, and Rep. Jim Jordan is now seen as a potential candidate. However, there are doubts about whether Jordan can secure the 217 votes needed to win the gavel. Republicans are divided, with some expressing opposition to Jordan's bid and concerns about rewarding "bad behavior" by a small group of holdouts. The GOP is considering expanding the powers of interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, but this move could face legal complications.
