When the next Congress convenes, Republican Kevin McCarthy could become the first candidate for speaker of the House in 100 years to not win the election on the first ballot. When it last happened, in 1923, it took nine ballots to name a speaker.
is charging straight into history — potentially becoming the first nominee in 100 years unable to win the job on a first-round floor vote.
Not since the disputed election of 1923 has a candidate for House speaker faced the public scrutiny of convening a new session of Congress only to have it descend into political chaos, with one vote after another, until a new speaker is chosen. At that time, it eventually took a grueling nine ballots to secure the gavel.
The dilemma reflects not just McCarthy’s uncertain stature among his peers, but also the shifting political norms in Congress as party leaders who once wielded immense power — the names of Cannon, Rayburn and now Pelosi adorn House meeting rooms and office buildings — are seeing it slip away in the 21st century.
“Does he want to go down as the first speaker candidate in 100 years to go to the floor and have to essentially, you know, give up?” said Jeffrey A. Jenkins, a professor at the University of Southern California and coauthor of “Fighting for the Speakership.”
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