It’s an ominous start to the new year for a GOP trying to rebuild
On one side of the Capitol, GOP senators congratulatedfor officially becoming the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. At that exact moment on the other side of the building, Republicans voted down’s bid for the House gavel — the first initial ballot defeat in a speaker’s race in 100 years.
“The unsteadiness I see over there [in the House] concerns me. We get the majority, and then we start a circular firing squad,” said Sen., a member of Republican leadership. “Sen. McConnell has his detractors, for sure. But he’s a strong, steady leader that cares about his members. And that’s what you need.”
And despite the Republicans winning the House majority, albeit barely, the dynamic in that chamber proved much less stable than its Senate counterpart as it labored to elect a speaker Tuesday. And while legislating will slow with a split Congress, the Senate and House Republican factions will eventually have to work together, at least to keep the government lights on and raise the debt limit.“My assumption is that, in the end, they’ll get organized over there.
The toughest deadline awaiting Republicans is the debt ceiling, an episode that routinely divides the GOP and can disrupt the economy — or worse. Ultimately, the GOP House will have to pass a bill raising the debt limit, likely sometime this year, and at least nine Republicans will have to break a filibuster for it to clear the Senate. A similar dynamic will unfold this fall on government funding.
McConnell made clear on Tuesday he was still backing McCarthy and said in an interview he is “pulling for him,” leaving no room for doubt despite the disparate positions of the two Republican leaders. Several GOP senators expressed confidence that, eventually, McCarthy would prevail.
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