It has been an interesting week for U.S. democracy. In the last fourteen days, U.S. lawmakers have averted a government shutdown. Currently, the Biden administration is discussing how it wants to address a surprise attack in Israel from the terrorist organization Hamas.  

All of this, and the U.S. House of Representatives does not have a Speaker to assist. A Speaker of the House has not been ousted in America’s history. So, what happened? 

Budgeting 101

In order to answer this, we must examine the U.S. budget, which is passed by the Congress every year. Congress must pass all federal funding budgets, which are typically valid for a certain length of time. This process is often done yearly. Congress can also pass short-term funding bills, typically called continuing resolutions or CR, which will fund the government for anywhere between a week and a couple months. If a funding bill expires and a new one is not put in place, the government is not being funded. This means the government cannot pay its employees or maintain any federally-controlled lands, although essential employees can continue to work; such a time is often referred to as a government shutdown. 

On Sept. 29, the House of Representatives passed a CR with broad bipartisan support. However, some Republicans, among them Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), had promised to introduce a motion to vacate the office of now-former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) if a CR passed.  

Removal of the Speaker 

On Oct. 2, Gaetz filed his promised motion to vacate. When the motion came to a vote, all Democrats joined eight Republicans in voting to remove McCarthy. Those eight Republicans were Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Elijah Crane (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Bob Good (Va.), Nancy Mace (S.C.) and Matthew M. Rosendale (Mont.). 

After the motion to vacate succeeded, Gaetz claimed, “Kevin McCarthy is a creature of the swamp. He has risen to power by collecting special interest money and redistributing that money in exchange for favors. We are breaking the fever now.” 

The successful vote means that the House is currently lacking an elected speaker. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) has been named interim speaker while the search takes place. 

Implications 

This leaves the Republican party with a leadership crisis. The Republican margin in the House is currently five votes, which means that five Republicans can defeat any measure if all Democrats oppose it. As such, this leaves radical Republicans with an outsized influence.  

Many Republicans are furious with Gaetz, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called for Gaetz’s removal from the Republican conference. Joseph Postell, professor of political science at Hillsdale College, said that these legislators sought to gain outside media influence. Postell told the Washington Post that “[House Republicans] are no longer incentivized to bargain with one another. They are incentivized to remain in conflict.” 

What will become of the Republican Party in 2024 and beyond is yet to be seen. But this episode will give us a picture of how Republicans choose to address a leadership crisis, and may show us how they will choose to handle Donald Trump. House Republicans are trying to show America that they can effectively govern in the leadup to the 2024 election; in the days to come, we will see Republicans try to govern their own.

In Missouri, the race for Senate has focused on Democrat Claire McCaskill, an incumbent, and Republican Josh Hawley.

McCaskill, 65, has been in the Senate since 2006 and was previously the state auditor and Jackson County Prosecutor. The senator has campaigned on her ability to work across the aisle and has reached out to moderates in the state – not wanting to appear too liberal in the red state

McCaskill visited all 50 counties in the state and held town halls in each. McCaskill has emphasized her positions on combating the opioid crisis, education and job creation. The senator has been criticized on the left for failing to appeal to black voters and on the right for being too liberal.

Hawley, 38, is the current attorney general and is campaigning on his conservative tendencies in court and on conservative views on issues in general. The attorney general is emphasizing his background fighting “big government and big business, the special interests, organized crime […] and anyone who would threaten the well-being of Missourians” in court.

Hawley’s primary issues include fighting for religious liberty and fighting against government overreach, the opioid crisis and human trafficking. Hawley has been criticized for being a political opportunist and for his position on healthcare.

The election is projected to be close and a potential seat for Democrats to lose in the Senate.

More information on McCaskill and Hawley can be found on their campaign websites (McCaskill, Hawley), in these articles (McCaskill, Hawley, both) and here.

The Kansas City, Missouri, area is in both the fifth and sixth congressional districts for the House of Representatives. In the race in the fifth district, Democratic incumbent Emanuel Cleaver II is running against Republican Jacob Turk.

Cleaver ran uncontested in the Democratic primary and has been in the House since 2005. The representative has campaigned on civility, bipartisanship and representing black Missourians.

Turk ran against Cleaver in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Turk has campaigned on commitments to small business and a strong military.

Cleaver is projected to win. You can get more information about Cleaver and Turk on their campaign websites (Cleaver, Turk) and on Cleaver’s congressional website.

In the sixth district, Republican incumbent Sam Graves is running against Democrat Henry Martin.

Graves was first elected a state representative in 1992. He is campaigning on issues of fiscal discipline, family values and gun rights. Martin is campaigning on issues of health care and taxes as a veteran.

More information can be found on their campaign websites (Graves, Martin) and on Graves’ congressional website.

Kansas City, Kansas, is in the third congressional district in Kansas. In this race, Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder is running against Democrat Sharice Davids.

Yoder has been in the House since 2010 and is campaigning on issues of cutting government spending, supporting public schools, health care and the military. Davids is campaigning on issues of the economy, education, health care, gun safety, the environment, immigration and equal rights.

More information can be found on their campaign websites (Yoder, Davids) and on Yoder’s congressional website. Don’t forget to vote in the midterm elections Nov. 6, 2018. You can learn more about local races here and here.

Photo courtesy of KQED.