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Politics
Charles R. Hunt, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Boise State University

House speaker paralysis is confusing – a political scientist explains what's happening

Jim Jordan, center, has been working feverishly to line up support for his speakership. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Political observers, most Americans and even members of Congress can’t remember a battle for the post of speaker of the U.S. House as fraught as the one that began back in January 2023 and continues still, 10 months later.

On Jan. 7, California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy finally became speaker after 15 rounds of voting. But on Oct. 3, he was ousted. On Oct. 17 and again on Oct. 18, Ohio Republican Jim Jordan came up short in two rounds of voting to replace McCarthy.

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