# The Great Ongoing Revolving Speakership of the 118th Congress {Mike Johnson is new speaker as of 2023-10-25} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 12, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432 "2023-10-12T02:05:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 42
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/821 "2023-10-20T17:38:15Z")
I know it’s been awhile since someone mentioned it, but here’s some context to the claim that “Jim Jordan is an effective legislator.” It doesn’t make him any more qualified to be Speaker, of course. > **[Claims Rep. Jim Jordan has never passed a law need context](https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/government-verify/claims-house-speaker-candidate-rep-jim-jordan-never-passed-laws-need-context/536-0b50d0c1-6077-4ba8-971a-eb553f1ae153)** > > The GOP candidate for speaker of the House has never been the primary sponsor of a bill that passed into law, but he has cosponsored many that have. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/822 "2023-10-20T17:55:37Z")
The Republican Conference is allegedly voting now by secret ballot whether Jordan should drop out of the Speaker’s race. This isn’t a vote to withdraw his name as the conference’s nominee, but if a majority say he should drop out I don’t know how he continues on. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/823 "2023-10-20T18:04:11Z")
Ahh, the old “double secret ballot” option is finally being employed! [![](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pirate4x4.com%2Fforum%2Fattachments%2Fgeneral-chit-chat%2F2956098d1577135513-maybe-its-time-fun-games-over-double-secret-probation.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=1704a2cbd3d0df10ce34f7ebfcd3f9d2a0b375ef0e3410f8be93f9bf61ef5e55&ipo=images) ](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pirate4x4.com%2Fforum%2Fattachments%2Fgeneral-chit-chat%2F2956098d1577135513-maybe-its-time-fun-games-over-double-secret-probation.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=1704a2cbd3d0df10ce34f7ebfcd3f9d2a0b375ef0e3410f8be93f9bf61ef5e55&ipo=images) ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/824 "2023-10-20T18:04:57Z")
Here are the counts of non-Jordan Republican voters that I have: Voted for the same non-Jordan candidate three times: Buck - Emmer D’Esposito - Zeldin Diaz-Balart - Scalise Ellzey - Garcia Garbarino - Zeldin Gimenez - McCarthy Gonzales, Tony - Scalise Granger - Scalise Kelly ( PA ) - Scalise LaLota - Zeldin Rutherford - Scalise Simpson - Scalise Womack - Scalise Switching from Jordan in the second vote: Buchanan - Jordan, then Donalds twice Ferguson - Jordan, then Scalise twice Miller-Meeks - Jordan, then Granger, then McHenry Stauber - Jordan, then Westerman twice Switching from Jordan in the third vote: Fitzpatrick - Jordan twice, then McHenry Kean (NJ) - Jordan twice, then McCarthy Molinaro - Jordan twice, then Zeldin Switching to Jordan in the second vote: LaMalfa - McCarthy, then Jordan twice Spartz - Massie, then Jordan twice Voted for different non-Jordan candidates: Bacon - McCarthy twice, then McHenry Chavez-DeRemer - McCarthy twice, then McHenry James - Cole, then Candice Miller, then Donalds Kiggans (VA) - McCarthy twice, then McHenry Lawler - McCarthy twice, then McHenry (I am not confident about the McHenry voter - I am going by what it says at the official House website, but I find it highly coincidental that four Representatives who voted for McCarthy in the first two rounds suddenly all switched to McHenry) ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/825 "2023-10-20T18:06:14Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > (I am not confident about the McHenry voter - I am going by what it says at the official House website, but I find it highly coincidental that four Representatives who voted for McCarthy in the first two rounds suddenly all switched to McHenry) Maybe they got their “Mc’s” mixed up? ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/826 "2023-10-20T18:07:08Z")
NY Times reports that Jordan has lost an up or down vote to continue as the GOP nominee. One wonders what lessons the rank and file will take from this fiasco. (Narrator: “The wrong ones.”] ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/827 "2023-10-20T18:10:26Z")
Just adding more context for comparison. By my quick search, it appears Hakeem Jeffries has sponsored 8 bills that have become law; and 94 that he co-sponsored that became law. In roughly 11 years. (versus Jordan’s 0 sponser / 71 co-sponsor count in roughly 16 years). Here’s the [link to Jeffries .gov website](https://www.congress.gov/member/hakeem-jeffries/J000294?resultIndex=2&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22jeffries%22%5D%2C%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22bill-status%22%3A%22law%22%7D) where I used filters to find the numbers (please check my work if you’re interested). ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/828 "2023-10-20T18:10:31Z")
He didn’t just lose it: he got 86ed. (Specifically, only 86 votes in favor of him continuing as the nominee). ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/829 "2023-10-20T18:13:12Z")
> House Republicans, meeting behind closed doors, voted Friday by secret ballot for Jordan (Ohio) to step aside following a third vote on the House floor in which Jordan fell well short of a majority of the full chamber. The move leaves the Republican conference without a speaker nominee more than two weeks after the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Lawmakers will return Monday to start the process over again. This makes it sound as if he doesn’t have a choice in staying in the race or dropping out. It sounds like he is no longer allowed to be the speaker nominee. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/830 "2023-10-20T18:17:07Z")
Whoop! Looks like it’s official: Being reported that Jordan has dropped out of the Speaker’s race. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/831 "2023-10-20T18:22:11Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > So Dems are likely looking to see how they can wind this down too, while hopefully getting some concessions at the same time. I hope (and believe) Jeffries and the rest of the Dem leadership are smart enough to get that any compromise isn’t worth the paper/electrons it’s printed on. Those on the GOP side inclined to make concessions are in no position to impose any agreement with the Dems on their fellow GOPers in Congress so long as the Crazy Caucus has an effective veto, which I don’t think ends merely because a Speaker manages to eke out a temporary majority to get sworn in. I worry about a government shutdown, but I worry more about programs that Dems and especially Biden support being thrown under the bus by the confluence of intransigent GOPers (“no debt-limit deal unless the Inflation Reduction Act is gutted”) and spooked Dems (“we favor this legislation, but not at the expense of a shutdown and definitely not a shutdown we could be blamed for with a straight face”). ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/832 "2023-10-20T18:24:17Z")
NY Times: "Meanwhile, it’s hard to overstate how spitting mad conservatives are. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida says Jordan was “knifed by secret ballot, anonymously, in a closed-door meeting in the bowels of the Capitol.” ![](https://media.giphy.com/media/holej0e9EgHgmvEVv4/giphy.gif) Suck it, Beavis. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/833 "2023-10-20T18:26:11Z")
I predict the GOP coalesces around McHenry. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/834 "2023-10-20T18:28:16Z")
Is there ANY Repub who is reasonable enough that Dems might be willing to support - with or without any deal - just to allow Congr to function again? You gotta figure the rabid FCers would refuse to back most non-insane members of their own party - at least without a Poison pill such as sank McCarthy. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/835 "2023-10-20T18:28:33Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > knifed by secret ballot Yeah, but his family wasn’t threatened with extermination, so there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/836 "2023-10-20T18:29:09Z")
It’s being reported the McHenry is now saying he is “open to” having his authority as Speaker Pro Tem expanded, but it must be done through a vote of the House. Also, Rep. Kevin Hern – current chairman of the Republican Study Committee – announced that he’s running for Speaker. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/837 "2023-10-20T18:29:57Z")
Question: what stops the House from voting in someone as Speaker briefly, then, after getting whatever business they need to do right away done, voting that person back out, the same way they voted McCarthy out the first time? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/838 "2023-10-20T18:31:06Z")
Something like that would break all precedent and would be outrageous and irrational. It would never happen. /s ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/839 "2023-10-20T18:35:19Z")
If Jeffries and the Dems are ever planning on making a move at some kind of agreement, now seems to be the time. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432/840 "2023-10-20T18:50:12Z")
Well, now we’re back to it being the Howler Monkey Caucus that’s going to be obstructing. So, 86 were steadfast for Jordan. 25 were _publicly_ done with him. The rest were either good little disciplined conference members, or are damned weasels who fear going on record. Of course now we have the legacy optics that being put in nomination by K-Mac was the kiss of death. How a propos. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432.md?page=41) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-revolving-speakership-of-the-118th-congress-mike-johnson-is-new-speaker-as-of-2023-10-25/991432.md?page=43)