Mike Rogers: Republicans need Democrats to elect speaker
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, left a Republican conference meeting upset on Thursday, calling the eight Republicans who helped oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy “traitors” who “paralyzed” the House, according to a report.
The Alabama congressman said it appears no Republican contender for speaker will be able to amass the 217 votes needed to be elected, reported Sahil Kapur of NBC News.
Rogers also said it appears Republicans will need Democratic votes to elect the next speaker, suggesting neither House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., nor House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, can make it to 217 votes:
Typically, the majority needed would be 218 votes, but there are currently two vacant seats, dropping the threshold to 217, according to the Associated Press.