House GOP floats rule change to grant powers to interim speaker

The rule change would take effect “in the event of a vacancy in the Office of the Speaker” and it would allow any member who has been tapped as the interim speaker to “exercise all authorities of the Office of Speaker as may be necessary and appropriate.”

The proposal comes after the historic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. It resulted in a three-week period of inaction as then-Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) was unable to exercise any leadership powers until a new speaker was elected.

The rule change is included in a document being circulated among House Republicans before the conference reconvenes next week.

Republicans are set to hold their leadership elections on Tuesday to choose the highest-ranking members of their conference before voting on the possible rule changes two days later. The changes would not take effect until the next Congress.

House Republicans are set to reelect their current leadership as the top three GOP leaders are all running for the same positions, according to Dear Colleague letters sent to lawmakers this week. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will run for another term as speaker, which will be decided in a congresswide vote at the beginning of next year.

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) will run for another term as House majority leader and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) will jockey for a second term in his No. 3 position.

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One question mark about GOP leadership is the position held by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who is seeking reelection to the post.

Stefanik assumed the fourth-highest ranking position in May 2021, quickly establishing herself as a staunch and close ally of President-elect Donald Trump. That loyalty put Stefanik on his initial short list for vice presidential contenders and in consideration for a position in his second administration.

Stefanik sent a letter to GOP lawmakers on Thursday announcing her intent to run for the position again, outlining her priorities for the next Congress.

“We have one opportunity to save America and this is it!” Stefanik wrote. “We must get to work immediately with President Trump to communicate and deliver real results and conservative wins for the American people! This will not be easy, we will have to work every day to fight through the noise and attacks by the mainstream media and the radical Democrat Party.”