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WEKU
WEKU
Politics
Ron Elving

The House last struggled to elect a speaker 100 years ago. Here's what happened

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is flanked by Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., left, and Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., right, in the House chamber as lawmakers meet for a second day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress. (Alex Brandon/AP)

If you heard it once this week you probably heard it a hundred times: The House has not failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot in 100 years.

For generations it was the definition of party loyalty for every member of each party to vote for its nominee for speaker. In fact for 50 years after World War II, not a single stray vote was cast for anyone other than the two major party nominees.

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