U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt is concerned that the process of electing a new Speaker of the House could take a while because of the current divisions in Congress.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives made history when Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was voted out of his position.
Aderholt (R-Haleyville) told Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal” that it’s going to be tough for one candidate to unite the GOP.
“[B]eing elected as Speaker of the House is not just being elected among the Republicans, it’s elected as a whole. So there has to be 218 votes that are cast for the Speaker himself or herself whoever it may be,” Aderholt said Friday. “And right now, I’m not sure if anyone could get 218 and that’s why I think this is going to be a very arduous process going forward over the next few days.
“You know I could see this stretching out for even a week or two.”
The congressman said the two current frontrunners for the position are House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana.
“I’ve worked with Steve for a long time,” he said. “I remember when Steve came as a new member of Congress and he had been there just a matter of days, if not a couple of weeks, and me and my wife had lunch with he and his wife and I remember sitting down with him and he was learning the ropes. But he’s been someone that’s really pulled everybody together and so I’m real hopefully that can thread the needle as I say and really get all of the factions of our conference together.”
Aderholt said he likes Jordan as well, but would prefer to him him remain as leader of the Judiciary Committee.
“Jim Jordan is a great member as well,” he said. “Of course he is doing an excellent job as the chairman of Judiciary. I think he’s been the best chairman of Judiciary that we’ve had in quite some time, and quite honestly I really don’t want to see him leave that slot because right now with what’s going on with the Biden impeachment as they’re looking on what to do and how to move forward on that, I think Jim Jordan has done an excellent job.”
While former President Donald Trump has also been endorsed for Speaker by some House Republicans, Aderholt said he can’t imagine Trump actually wanting the job right now.
“I couldn’t imagine Trump really wanting it right now running for president,” he said. “Because quite honestly this will be a job that will be all consuming and I just really think he needs to be focused on his presidency and trying to get back in the White House. I have endorsed Trump as far as this presidency goes, and so I really think he needs to focus on that, which he really wouldn’t have time to really go around the different parts of the country and campaign for president if he was tied in the speakership.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
