Longest period without a speaker in the House.
The House of Representatives: A History of Speaker Vacancies
The House of Representatives has been without a speaker for nearly three weeks, but this is not an unprecedented situation. Throughout history, the lower chamber of Congress has experienced extended periods without an elected presiding officer. Let’s take a closer look at the four longest speaker vacancies in the history of the House of Representatives.
December 1855-February 1856
The longest speakership vacancy the House has ever faced occurred in the 1850s during the 34th Congress. The speaker election went through a grueling 133 ballots. This historic race was heavily influenced by the issues of slavery and anti-immigration movements, which were prevalent just before the start of the Civil War. The first vote took place on December 3, 1855, and the final vote was held on February 2, 1856.
After multiple rounds of voting, Massachusetts Rep. Nathaniel Banks of the American Party emerged as the victor, defeating Rep. William Aiken (D-SC) by a narrow margin of 103-100 on the final ballot. Banks’ initial support was only 21 votes, making his victory even more remarkable. This 61-day vacancy remains the longest period in which the House of Representatives did not have an elected speaker.
December 1859-February 1860
Four years after the longest vacancy, the speaker election during the 36th Congress came close to breaking the previous record. With the Civil War looming, tensions between slave states and free states were at an all-time high. The House of Representatives had to endure 44 rounds of voting before Rep. William Pennington (R-NJ) secured a majority on the final ballot.
This 58-day vacancy stands as one of the longest in the chamber’s history, surpassing the duration of the third longest vacancy.
December 1849
In December 1849, the House of Representatives faced its third longest speaker vacancy. It took a staggering 63 ballots before a speaker was finally elected. The 19-day period without a speaker came to an end when the chamber decided to elect a speaker by a plurality vote.
Rep. Howell Cobb (D-GA) emerged as the elected speaker after the House passed a resolution allowing for a speaker to be elected by plurality. This method was only used once more, during the speaker election in 1855-66.
October 2023 (ongoing)
Currently tied for the third longest vacancy, the House speakership remains unfilled. This vacancy began on October 3, 2023, when Rep. Kevin McCarthy was removed from the position by a vote of 216-210. This marked the first successful motion to vacate in history.
Since then, Republicans have been scrambling to find a replacement for McCarthy. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) was initially nominated, but it became clear that he would not secure the necessary votes. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) was then nominated, but he faced challenges in winning over moderate members of the conference.
On Monday, Republicans will hold a speaker forum and select their third nominee. The timetable for the fourth speaker ballot will be determined after the conference’s decision. As of now, the vacancy has persisted for 19 days.
For more information, click here to visit The Washington Examiner.
How did the unity across party lines in choosing William Pennington as the speaker in 1860 contribute to averting the impending Civil War?
Ontinued the trend of extended periods without a speaker. Similar to the previous vacancy, this period was marked by intense debates surrounding the issue of slavery. The tense political climate resulted in a deadlock that lasted for 56 days, from December 5, 1859, to February 1, 1860.
After countless rounds of voting,�� a compromise candidate was finally chosen. Democrat William Pennington of New Jersey emerged as the speaker���with the support of both Republicans and anti-Lecompton Democrats. This unity across party lines was seen as a crucial step towards averting the impending Civil War.
December 2015-October 2015
Fast forward over a century, and the House of Representatives faced yet another substantial speaker vacancy in the 21st century. This time, the vacancy was not a result of political deadlock or ideological divisions, but rather due to the resignation of Speaker John Boehner. Boehner announced his intention to resign on September 25, 2015, creating a gap in leadership that lasted for nearly a month.
In the midst of concerns about partisan divisions and the possibility of a government shutdown, a bitter battle raged within the Republican Party to decide on the next speaker. Ultimately, Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin was elected as the new speaker on October 29, 2015. This 30-day vacancy highlighted the ongoing challenges and divisions within the House of Representatives.
October 2019-January 2020
Most recently, the House of Representatives experienced another significant speaker vacancy at the end of 2019. Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on December 5, 2019, that the House would move forward with articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. This decision led to heated debates and political tensions within the House, resulting in a vacancy that lasted for 33 days from December 5, 2019, to January 7, 2020.
During this period, numerous names were floated as potential successors, but ultimately, Nancy Pelosi was reelected as speaker to serve another term. Her reelection signaled not only her strength within the Democratic Party but also the continued importance of her leadership in navigating a divided political landscape.
In conclusion, the House of Representatives has faced several notable speaker vacancies throughout its history. These vacancies have been influenced by a range of factors, from issues of slavery to partisan divisions. While these periods without an elected speaker may reflect the challenges and complexities of American politics, they also serve as a reminder of the resilience and ability of the House to eventually find a path forward.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
