House Democrats Position Themselves Strongly Amid Speaker Chaos

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, and his fellow House Democrats are currently in a favorable position amidst the infighting among Republicans over who will be the next speaker.

Democrats’ Messaging and Voting Record

The Democrats have effectively messaged against House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan’s candidacy for speaker and have consistently supported Jeffries. Their voting record and calls for a bipartisan approach have positioned them well amidst the chaos in the House.

Democrats Stand Behind Jeffries

Ever since the race to replace ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy began, the Democrats have remained united in their support for Jeffries as their nominee for speaker.

Support for McCarthy’s Removal

Jeffries and the Democrats backed the motion to remove McCarthy from his position, initiated by GOP Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, nearly three weeks ago.

Politicking in Favor of Democrats

Since then, Jeffries and the Democrats have been actively engaging in political maneuvers, leveraging the situation to their advantage before the political pendulum swings back towards the GOP.

Democrats Present a United Front

After Jordan’s nomination as House speaker, Jeffries and his party have portrayed themselves as a unified force.

Emphasis on Jordan’s Record and Bipartisanship

The Democrats consistently highlight Jordan’s record in Congress and his stance on the 2020 election results while advocating for a bipartisan agreement to select a speaker.

Democrats’ Stance on Republicans

However, Jeffries has not mentioned any specific Republicans whom the House Democrats would support for speaker. He stated, “House Democrats have repeatedly made it clear that we want to find a bipartisan leader to serve at every step of the way. Republicans have rejected bipartisanship and embraced extremism,” during a press conference.

Bipartisanship and Future Prospects

The Democrats’ calls for bipartisanship, coupled with their spotlight on the GOP’s chaotic speaker fight, are likely to benefit them heading into the 2024 elections.

Republicans’ Reminders

However, House Republicans will not let the American people forget that the Democrats joined Gaetz and seven other GOP lawmakers in ousting McCarthy. This is unlikely to change before 2024.

Jordan’s Failed Speaker Votes

Jordan held his third vote for speaker on Friday, but once again failed to secure the position as members of his party voted for other Republicans instead. Twenty-five Republicans voted against Jordan, leaving him with only 194 votes, well short of the approximately 217 required to win the speaker’s race. In contrast, Jeffries picked up 210 votes from House Democrats.

Jordan Voted Out by House Republicans

Subsequently, Jordan was voted out as the speaker nominee by House Republicans in a closed-door conference.