Special Edition of The Golden Apple -- Disorder in the House

THE GOLDEN APPLE: Your report on the latest discord from GrayRobinson

Disorder in the House — As you’ve probably already heard, the House of Representatives made history this afternoon by voting 216-210 to declare the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives vacant.

This vote immediately removed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the position of Speaker. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who has been serving as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has been named Speaker pro tem so the House can continue to function, but the reality is that House won’t vote on anything until they elect a new Speaker.

Who might that be? Oddsmakers in DC are probably already taking bets, but we’re not putting any money down. No candidate has yet stepped forward to say that they want the job. Rep. McCarthy withdrew his name from consideration this evening. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) might be a candidate, but he announced in August that he was undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma, a treatable blood cancer. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) is a former Chair of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee and has allies along the spectrum of the Republican Caucus.

Other possibilities include Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Chair of the House Republican Caucus; Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Chairman of the Rules Committee; Rep. Garrett Graves (R-LA), Chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation; Rep. French Hill (R-AR), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion; and Acting Speaker McHenry himself.

In the meantime, Acting Speaker McHenry has called a recess of the House until tomorrow. House Republicans are currently meeting to try to figure out a path forward.

Stay tuned for further developments