It was a busy day for Rockland’s newest congressional representative, Mike Lawler, the first Republican to represent our area in the House of Representatives since Benjamin Gilman left office 20 years ago. One of the first items on the agenda was a roll-call vote on the next Speaker of the House. Lawler made his choice clear when his turn came, as the clerk proceeded through each representative in alphabetical order…
But House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy failed not once, not twice, but failed three times to get enough votes to be elected Speaker, as a handful of members of the GOP backed Jim Jordan. That’s the first time that’s happened in 100 years. In 1923, it took nine rounds of voting for Frederick Huntington Gillett to become speaker. Since no Majority Leader was selected yesterday, they’ll try again today. Democrats were solidly behind New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries as minority leader. Swearing-in ceremonies are delayed until a speaker is chosen.