Former long-serving House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed her disappointment on Tuesday as Republicans continued to face challenges in electing a new speaker. After Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) fell short in a bid for the position, Pelosi remarked on the GOP’s struggle, suggesting they needed to brush up on their mathematical skills.
“I feel a sense of sadness for the institution,” Pelosi told reporters, emphasizing her concern over the declining performance of Republicans in this regard. “It’s disheartening to witness their repeated failures. They should invest some time in mastering basic mathematics and understanding the art of counting.”
Pelosi, who held the speaker’s position for eight years and served as House minority leader for another 12 years, was known for her adeptness in managing Democratic affairs, ensuring meticulous vote counts before presenting any matters on the House floor. She stepped down last year, paving the way for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to assume the role of minority leader.
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These remarks from Pelosi came amidst the ongoing struggles within the GOP, following the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position two weeks prior. In the interim period, Republicans attempted to establish new leadership, first considering and then rejecting Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) for the role. Ultimately, their vote on Tuesday regarding Jordan’s candidacy for speaker ended in failure.
Jordan, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, faced a significant challenge, with the margin of error allowing him to lose only three GOP votes. Regrettably, he lost 20. As of Tuesday afternoon, the House remained in recess, and Jordan was actively working to gain support from his critics. At present, no viable candidate within the GOP ranks appears capable of securing enough votes to claim the position of speaker.
The absence of a speaker has profound implications, rendering the House unable to conduct its essential business. In light of this, Democrats, including Jeffries, have raised the prospect of forming a bipartisan governing coalition. Under this arrangement, both parties would collaborate in running the House, acknowledging the necessity of cooperation between Democrats and Republicans to facilitate fundamental governance.
“In essence, the House rules should recognize the undeniable reality that Republicans rely on Democratic backing to carry out the fundamental duties of governing,” Jeffries emphasized in a recent op-ed for The Washington Post. “A small faction of extremists should not have the power to obstruct such collaboration.”
Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, reiterated the case for a bipartisan governing structure on Tuesday as he nominated Jeffries for the role of speaker. “Only Hakeem Jeffries can guide us out of this chaos and set us on the path to effective governance,” Aguilar declared, receiving enthusiastic support from fellow Democrats.
However, the likelihood of such a bipartisan arrangement remains uncertain. Republicans are determined to retain control of the chamber, using legislative victories to bolster their party’s messaging in anticipation of the 2024 elections. Achieving this objective necessitates the appointment of a speaker, underscoring the urgency of resolving the current deadlock within the GOP leadership.
