Newt Gingrich, the previous House speaker, recently advocated for the Republican Party to consider Rep. Elise Stefanik for the vacant Speaker position.
Quick Facts:
- Newt Gingrich suggested that a female candidate, such as Rep. Elise Stefanik or Beth Van Duyne, might be a unifying choice for the next House speaker.
- The House has been without a speaker for 20 days, and the GOP is struggling to find a nominee after two previous candidates withdrew or lost.
- Gingrich believes that, considering the current division and behavior within the GOP, a female speaker might be more effective in uniting the party.
Gingrich, discussing the state of the Republican Party on Fox News Sunday, highlighted the party’s challenges in finding a new leader for the House, the only chamber they currently dominate. The urgency is further magnified given that the House has operated without a speaker for nearly three weeks. Gingrich’s proposal for a female leader aims at unifying a fractured party that has seen two of its speaker nominees fall through recently.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) was a nominee but withdrew upon realizing he couldn’t secure the necessary 214 votes, mainly due to his cancer diagnosis. Following him, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) tried thrice but couldn’t win the position. With no present nominee, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-SC) is holding the position as the speaker pro tempore. Several other Republican representatives have shown interest in the role, with McCarthy endorsing House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN).
Addressing the internal rifts within the GOP, Gingrich expressed concerns about the party’s future stability. Drawing from his own tenure as speaker, he noted that the disruptive behavior and divisions seen recently might be better managed with a female speaker. The central challenge for the GOP, Gingrich emphasized, is the need for unity, suggesting that a female leader might foster this much-needed cohesion.
| For Further Reading |
|---|
| Speaker of the House: The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. The individual is elected by members of the House and is second in the United States presidential line of succession, right after the vice president. The Speaker’s role includes keeping order during debates, deciding who may speak, and ruling on procedural matters. Historically, the position has been one of significant political power and influence. [Wikipedia] |
Q&A
Why did Gingrich suggest a female speaker for the GOP?
Gingrich believes that a female speaker might be more effective in unifying the Republican Party, given the current divisions and disruptive behavior within its ranks.
Who are the previous nominees for the speaker position?
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) were the previous nominees. Scalise withdrew due to his cancer diagnosis, while Jordan lost three elections for the position.
How long has the House been without a speaker?
The House has been without a speaker for 20 days.
Original article source: Washington Examiner