By David Morgan and David Ljunggren
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday were trying again to fill a leadership vacuum that has paralyzed the chamber for three weeks and left Congress unable to tackle urgent funding requests for Israel and Ukraine.
The 221-member Republican majority in the House gathered for a series of closed-door votes to choose a nominee from seven candidates for speaker, a position that has been vacant since Oct. 3.
It is unclear whether any of them can unite the party. But after three weeks of infighting, some Republicans predicted that a new speaker could be elected on the House floor quickly.
“People are so discouraged by what’s happened the last three weeks that they want to come together,” Representative Don Bacon said after a 2-1/2-hour candidate forum on Monday evening.
One of those candidates dropped out as voting got underway on Tuesday, saying Republicans needed to unite quickly around a leader. “Congress and the American people needed a Republican speaker three weeks ago. If withdrawing my name can help expedite that process even a little, then I will gladly step aside,” Representative Gary Palmer said in a statement.
Remaining candidates include Representative Tom Emmer, who as the No. 3 House Republican can point to leadership and campaign fundraising experience that normally would make him a strong candidate for the post.
But Republicans have already rejected two leaders with those skills. Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker by a small group of Republican insurgents on Oct. 3, and his No. 2, Steve Scalise, dropped his own bid the following week when he was unable to line up enough votes to win the job.
Emmer faces seven other rivals from his party’s right flank, including Representatives Byron Donalds and Kevin Hern.
Republicans have already rejected the most prominent member of that faction, Representative Jim Jordan, who was dropped as their nominee after losing three floor votes last week.
‘GET BACK TO WORK’
Other candidates, like Representative Mike Johnson, are running as bridge builders who promise to unite the party after weeks of arguing during which some Republican members of Congress reported getting death threats after voting against hardline candidate Jim Jordan.
Some Republicans question whether unity is possible. On Monday, however, several said party it could be more easily achieved after lawmakers spent the weekend hearing from constituents angered by the stalemate.
“Americans are looking at us right now, and they’re not thrilled,” Representative Anthony D’Esposito said. “There’s a feeling that people want to get back to work. We want to move this country forward.”
The infighting has left the House unable to respond to President Joe Biden’s $106 billion request for aid to Israel, Ukraine and U.S. border security. Congress will also have to act before a Nov. 17 deadline to fund the U.S. government and avert a partial shutdown.
The uncertainty has also helped to push up the U.S. government’s borrowing costs. The government posted a record $1.7 trillion deficit for the most recent fiscal year, in part due to higher interest payments.
Republicans control the House by a narrow 221-212 margin, which means they can afford no more than four defections on partisan votes. Some 25 Republicans voted against Jordan’s speaker bid last Friday.
With Democrats united in opposition, Republicans will have to ensure they have 217 votes of their own.
Republicans are expected to hold several rounds of closed-door ballots to settle on a nominee before a floor vote that would install a speaker. A nominee is chosen by simple majority.
But Republicans might keep voting and negotiating in private until their next nominee has locked in 217 Republican votes
“People want to avoid another floor fiasco,” said Representative Mike Gallagher.
Democrats have said they are open to a compromise candidate that would allow the chamber to function. Many Republicans have said on principle that they would not back somebody who had support from the opposition party.
But things could change if Republicans prove unable to choose a speaker in coming days.
“Every hour that this goes by, members get closer and closer to wanting to try unconventional approaches,” said Representative Dusty Johnson.
(Reporting by Katharine Jackson, David Morgan, Makini Brice and Julio Cesar-Chavez; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Alistair Bell)
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