What Awaits a New Speaker

Punchbowl News: “If somebody — anybody — wins the speaker’s gavel over the next few days, this will likely be the least seasoned speaker in the post-Civil War era. None of the eight candidates for the House’s top job has extensive time in a senior leadership role or been a major committee chair.”

“Of course, the next speaker will be the conference’s fourth choice. “Plan D,” if you will. This comes after the Republican Conference booted Kevin McCarthy, rejected Majority Leader Steve Scalise and embarrassed Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on the House floor. Nothing like being the fourth pick for the job.”

“Oh, and by the way, whoever wins this position will outrank Scalise, who, by all accounts, is still stung by the fact that he didn’t even get a roll-call vote on the House floor. They’ll also have to manage Jordan, the most powerful House committee chair in decades and another failed speaker hopeful”.