Pauly Denetclaw
ICT
Going into the 118th Congress, Kevin McCarthy, who has been minority leader of the Republican Party for many years, knew he didn’t have the votes to become House speaker. A block of five Republican representatives said they would not vote for McCarthy. On Tuesday at noon, eastern time, that number grew to 19.
During the first round of voting for House speaker, the first surprise came from newly elected Josh Brecheen, Choctaw, who represents Oklahoma’s district 2. Brecheen voted for Rep. Jim Banks from Indiana, who actually voted for McCarthy.
“The American people gave the majority to Republicans this November for a change—not more status quo touted as change. I was elected to Congress by the people of Oklahoma’s Second District under the commitment to reform reckless spending that is bankrupting our nation and robbing our children and future generations. I’m keeping my word,” Brecheen said in a press release. “My message to Leader McCarthy has been—and continues to be—that to obtain my support for Speaker, transformative rule changes that stop out of control spending and address our debt loading must occur.”
With 202 votes, McCarthy failed to reach the 218 votes needed to become speaker three times. Rep. Tom Cole, Chickasaw, made the motion to adjourn and the House will be back in session Wednesday to once again try to elect a speaker. The House cannot conduct business without this important role filled. A speaker’s contest last went multiple rounds in 1923, according to the Associated Press
Cole voted for McCarthy in all three rounds.
The two Democrats, Mary Peltola, Yup’ik, and Sharice Davids, Ho-Chunk, voted for Democratic speaker nominee Hakeem Jeffries in all three rounds.
Brecheen changed his second vote to Rep. Jim Jordan from Ohio. Jordan voted for McCarthy in all three rounds. Jordan said he has no interest in becoming speaker and wants to chair the judiciary committee.
In the final round for speaker, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds changed his vote to Jordan.
“A person’s history is the greatest predictor of future behavior. Leader McCarthy’s past voting record supporting major spending bills as part of the Republican leadership for the past decade gives me pause,” Brecheen said. “Without substantive rules changes that would guide Leader McCarthy on spending, I must vote as I have until we have a better deal for your children.”
With the future of the speakership unknown, a compromise candidate may emerge. There has been discussion by analysts about the possibility of Cole taking over that role. However, he has stated in the past he has no interest.
Cole has many of the necessary leadership skills to become the highest ranking member of the House Republicans. He was chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, meaning he knows how and is able to get Republicans elected. Cole is the ranking member of the rules committee and vice ranking member of the appropriations committee, two very important committees.
While the House was in chaos, the U.S. Senate conducted business as usual. Markwayne Mullin, Cherokee, was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris and began a six-year Senate term.
Dressed in a black suit with a red tie, Mullin greeted Harris with a smile and head nod. Later, shaking her hand. Mullin appeared to be holding a small bible in his left hand as he took his oath. Mullin was sworn in alongside fellow Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Mullin is the second Cherokee citizen to become a senator and the fourth Indigenous person ever to be a part of the U.S. Senate, which has not had an Indigenous representation since 2005.
Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, became the first woman to hold the position of Senate president pro tempore.
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