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Subscribe to RSSThe House will vote tomorrow to elect a Speaker of the House. While it is likely that Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) will be reelected, if 17 conservatives decide to vote against Boehner, it could lead to the first second ballot for speaker since 1923.
There are no indications Boehner will not be re-elected Speaker. While there will likely be members who vote against him, there is no real candidate that could garner enough votes to take Boehner down.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) leaves a House Republican Caucus meeting.
The 113th Congress will convene for the first time at noon Thursday, after which the House will vote to elect a speaker.
Members will be called by name alphabetically and asked for their vote. This vote is different than typical votes, which are done electronically during a set period of time.
The next speaker needs a majority of all votes cast to be elected. They do not need a majority of the full membership of the House. The 113th has 434 members because Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s seat will be vacant.
If all members were to vote, Boehner would need 218 votes, unless there are members who are absent for the vote or members who vote "present" (for no one).
Since 1913, the year the House reached the size of 435 members, there has only been one time that no candidate received the majority of the votes cast for speaker.
That was in 1923, when nine ballots over three days were needed before Rep. Frederick Gillett (R-MA) was reelected to the position for a third term.
The speaker does not have to be a member of Congress, but in the history of the House of Representatives there has never been a speaker who was not a member.
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) nominated Newt Gingrich this year during the Republican Conference meeting, but that nomination was not seconded, and Speaker Boehner was nominated by a voice vote (no objectors) to be the Republicans' nominee yet again. Democrats chose to have Nancy Pelosi as their nominee for Speaker of the House.
Between 1943 and 1995, only the nominated Republican and Democrat received votes, but before that, it was customary for members of other groups within parties would garner votes as well.
Since 1913, the speaker has been elected without a majority of the whole House, but with the majority of those voting, only four times:
-- 1917 (65th Congress) -- "Champ" Clark (D-MO) was elected with 217 votes;
-- 1923 (68th Congress) -- Frederick Gillett (R-MA) was elected with 215 votes;
-- 1943 (78th Congress) -- Sam Rayburn (D-TX) was elected with 217 votes;
-- 1997 (105th Congress) -- Newt Gingrich (R-GA) was elected with 216 votes
Recent speaker votes:
-- 2011 (Jan. 5th): Boehner 241, Pelosi 173, Shuler 11, Lewis (GA) 2 Costa 1, Cardoza 1, Cooper 1, Kaptur 1, Hoyer 1, Present 1
-- 2009 (Jan. 6th): Pelosi 255, Boehner 174
-- 2007 (Jan. 4th): Pelosi 233, Boehner 202
-- 2005 (Jan. 4th): Hastert 226, Pelosi 199, Murtha 1, Present 1
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"Bohner likely to be re-elected Speaker" - WHY?
If you had an MD who did a lousy job on your surgery, a mechanic who botched the repair job on your car or a restaurant that served a burned meal - would you continue to use their services?
Well, Bohner did a lousy job, botched the fiscal deal and left Sandy people without hope. Why should he keep his job?
Wait, we're not blaming Bush for the hopeless Sandy victims? Oh yeah, that was Katrina, this is Barry's catastrophy.
Greg,
Your post would make more sense if the complaints were about Obama, but alas, the complaints are regarding the house of representatives, who republicans hold a slim majority in. Funny how republicans are trying to deflect, and with smoke and mirrors turn the criticism back onto Obama. Obama and Christie have been praised for their response to Sandy's victims...the criticism is regarding the republican response to Sandy's victims.
JackieK, If you had been paying attention you would have been aware of the pork the Dems attached to the Sandy part of the bill. Sandy victims will get their taxpayer money on Friday. Christie needs to shut up and release the vacuum on Barry's butt, it's not doing him any good.
Greg,
Your post said nothing about pork...just to let you know, the actual bill is not so much "pork" as it is for all disasters that happened in 2012. The fishery is regarding the tsunami from Japan, some help from the drought that happened in the plains and southwest, etc. Maybe some of you should actually read the bill and find out what is in it, instead of listening and repeating talking points,.
Yea, he demonstrates some typical GOP values and skills...especially good at taking a paycheck without getting the job done to meet the needs of the 99%, but pays extra attention to the wants of the 1%...
I just can't stand anymore of this lunacy. I love my country but despise the way it is being run into the ground. Stop acting like a bunch of whiny brats and do what is right for the country. The world is watching this great country imploding because of all the idiots in office. Too bad we can't fire their ass. If Bonehead is re-elected as whiner of the house it will be many more years of this insanity. I say get rid of the lot of them and elect people that actually care about his country and not their own agendas. Term limits are desperatly needed for Congress and the house. Can't wait to see what antics are pulled when it's time to discuss debt ceiling.
What is more appropriate that have head DUMMIE in charge of the bigger group of Dummies.Hence Boehner will again be voted in to ensure that Cantor doesn't get that Job . His Israel Daddies won.t like that but it is the best for the this country.
Speaking of dummies in charge, congrats on the re-electin of the biggest of dummies.
Watch your back Boehner - Cantor said he really learned a lot from the movie Valkyrie.......... It appears that your "go f**k yourself" comment to Reid also gave Cantor some new ideas. Lets hold off on a gun ban for a while - maybe these a$$hole$ in congress will take care of Americas problem for us.
Boehner and Cantor should both be out of any leadership roles. They can't even due the job they were elected for -- to represent the people, and that does not mean just the wealthy.
Boner needs to take leadership 101, if his IQ is up to it. I want to know the names of those who vote him into leadership for 2013 ! Idiots seem to gravitate towards idiots ! Boner is the number one TERRORIST that our country has to fear !
Hey, don't forget we're the idiots that re-elected 90% of those that were up for re-election. This after a 12% Congress approval rating. We get what we deserve. lousy leadership because We The People are too stupid to vote those clowns out. Stupid is as stupid does.
Jim, BHO? Stupid is as stupid does.
Hey Jim, I didn't vote them in !
The Orange Boner is as useless as teats on a bull, but Weasel Cantor is even worse!
The Tea stains became nothing but the punchline to a bad joke yesterday. Send them to Daycare and not the House!
Where you been Herron, diaper change?
Hopefully when it comes time for re-election ole Bonehead and his obstructionist cronies will be sent home packing for good. Enough is enough of these fools......
Please explain to me how and what they are obstructing. Fiscal common sense?
Grover is going to run a Peanut against Boehner in 2014. Say buh-bye, Johnny!
Great! Now Obongo raised our taxes so he can spend more and get to his goal of $20 trillion in debt, pay all his dumbocrat welfare whores and keep the other idiot Obongoites happy.
Queue the Looney Tunes melody.
BigBadBoob.............you're as dumb as a typical dumbocrat. Welfare whore.
Obongo,
I guess you are in the group that makes more than$400k then...because they are the only ones who are getting the so called tax increases. All Americans that have jobs will get a small increase due to the payroll tax going back up....but I thought republicans wanted part of the "entitlement" reformed and more revenue infused into it. By your post, I'm not sure if you even graduated, so you must have inherited your half a million per year trust.
JackieK, I thought Obama has been preaching no tax increases for the middle class, but now I pay more. He wasn't lieing was he?
Greg,
It's called compromise....not getting everything you want, and giving to the other side. The threshold for income tax was raised from $250k to $400k, in return to letting the payroll tax relief go. Guess it is something you don't understand. Republicans need to learn that compromise means giving up something, and in return getting something that you really want. Thankfully, many republicans realized that last night and accepted the deal.
Really easy. Congress had a 12% approval rating in August of 2012. Yet in November We The People re-elected over 90% of those that were up for re-election. THAT's how Boehner will get re-elected to SOH. We sent the idiots that will vote for him back to Washington. It's our fault, and only our fault.
Boner also ran unopposed.
It would be different if he was running against a gerbil, or anything else with more ethics!
BHO?
Please please , if anyone in DC is smart at all get rid of Boehner now, he is too much trouble, totally a problem causer not a problem solver except for the rich. The rich have enough, there is no middle class, only those who have and those who do not. We need our government fixed, it has been out of control for 40 years and noone gives a s--t anymore. We need to take our country back and change the whole standard of business. Business as usual doesn't cut it, it just cuts out regular people and inflates everything out of control!!!! Wake up America they are still doing business as usual and noone is trying to stop them!!!!!!!!!!
Could there be a bigger idiot leading the House?? Out smarted by the worst President ever!! This man is the true end to the Republican party... he deserves absolutely no respect from anyone let alone the House Republicans.... he is a moron and Sen Reid called it right!
The Conservative 2013 joke of the day.....
Conservatives Want to Fire John Boehner and Replace Him With Sarah Palin
Those republicans unhappy with Boehner should look for somebody further right, not a Democrat, extreme left or otherwise.
Vote for Bo nut. we do not want to have a rain storm of tears flowing all over the United States.
It will be fun to watch the Fox Noise bimbos tripping over their own tounges (AGAIN)!
Lets sum up the last couple months:
-The GOP LOST the WH
-The GOP LOST seats in the Senate
-The TP LOST 10 seats in the House
-The TP LOST their blockage of a fiscal cliff deal by 90 votes.
Boehner needs a new job. I hear that Obama Claus needs someone to shine his shoes and fetch his hair pick.
You little Archie, you. Now STIFLE!
It's truly amazing. A drunken cry-baby who punts negotiations to the Senate and delays aid to disaster areas for months is going to be re-elected Speaker.
On the bright side, there will be a new Congress tomorrow and the return of Alan Grayson :)
Bring on the next round of negotiations. Republicans hold all the cards, .... oops, what happened? LOL
And total of 10 tea stains will not be returning in the new House...
And the TP guy in AZ lost to an openly bisexual Dem. In ARIZONA!
I am sorry the "weeper" will be back but the Republican Party has pretty much destroyed themselves. Am I the only who notice the only time the "big orange" did not cry was about the twenty kids in Connecticut,..so much for his tears..all an act and I am just going to assume we will have another do nothing House of Representatives. I for one have pledged not to vote for a single incumbent from my part of Southern California....get rid of them all and let's start over as fast as we can.
Thank God Boehner is speaker rather than his predecessor, Nancy "Botox" Pelosi.
It is so sad to see that the house of representatives can see no better alternative than the current speaker who in my opinion is a common dictator who is in the wrong country. Can't anyone see that we will get nowhere in the next two years with him as a leader. Approval rating for congress is below 10% what will it stoop to with him at the helm again
J M R G, you need more names. That rating just happens to include the democrat majority senate with speaker Harriet Malarky Reid.
He did the job that his constituency elected him to do. Did your representative?
Yes, and my rep is not the leader of the House GOP. Boehner is responsible for swaying opinions in his entire caucus.
Name him.
Boehner deserves to be recalled, NOT re-elected!
If Boehner's re-elected that shows you how bad the GOP really is ... Boehner's shameful desertion of his post and not allowing the aid for the folks adversely affected by Sandy to come up for vote as he promised ...
He's totally worthless -- as useful as **** on a bull