Can Hakeem Jeffries become Speaker? Support grows for NY Democrat after Kevin McCarthy’s 6th vote loss

New York Democrat Hakeem Jeffries is all set to become the first Black lawmaker to lead a party, albeit the minority party, in Congress as the 118th Congress convenes in Washington.

But now calls are growing for the House of Representatives to vote him as the Speaker after GOP leader Kevin McCarthy continues to fall short of the majority number of votes required to clinch the coveted position. But is that even possible?

Also Read | Kevin McCarthy loses second round of voting in bid to become US House Speaker

Can Hakeem Jeffries become Speaker?

It is rare, but it can happen! Under rule I clause 8, mentioned in House Practice: A Guide to the Rules, Precedents, and Procedures of the House, “the Speaker pro tempore must be a Member of the House. He usually is a member of the majority party or the Majority Whip. However, the Dean of the House also has served in that capacity. On rare ceremonial occasions, the Minority Leader has been designated Speaker pro tempore.”

The latest session of Congress convened on Tuesday and consequently wrapped up with the House failing to successfully elect a new speaker. McCarthy was placed on three different ballots, along with Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs on the first ballot and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan on the next two, However, none of the lawmakers secured the 218 votes needed for the speakership. Although Jeffries, too failed to secure enough votes for the majority, he did manage to get 212 votes,  which was more than any of the Republican challengers. McCarthy got 203 votes every time.

Also Read | Will Kevin McCarthy nominate Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise to be Speaker if impasse persists?

Democrats displayed unwavering support for Jeffries. At one point, Democrats in the chamber chanted “Hakeem, Hakeem,” as the speakership election went to multiple rounds of balloting. In a similar turn of events, on Wednesday, McCarthy suffered yet another humiliating defeat on the fourth ballot, securing 201 votes. Jeffries maintained the same number: 212.

Subsequently he also ended up defeated in the fifth and sixth ballots that followed on the same day.

With no light at the end of the tunnel being seen for the Republicans, and the party in complete disarray after hardliners from the GOP have openly rejected McCarthy’s bid to become Speaker, people on social media are calling for Jeffries to be voted the Speaker of the house.

“Hakeem Jeffries has won more votes than Kevin McCarthy has every time the vote has been counted Many Americans would rather have Hakeem than Kevin lead the US House We should have Speaker Jeffries #HouseSpeaker,” one of them said, while another wrote, “At this point, moderate Republicans should vote for Jeffries and end this embarrassing show of complete Republican disfunction #HouseSpeaker.” A third commented, “Republicans are effectively causing a shut down of our government. Do NOT allow them to spin this as “well democrats wont reach across the isle”, No, this is ALL YOU republicans. YOU could vote for Jeffries. #HouseSpeaker.”