The Great Unease about the House Voting: There is No Governing Majority of 218 Votes

The lack of 218 votes for any candidate for Speaker underlines the fact that there is no governing majority of 218 votes in the U.S. House.

If McCarthy pulls it out, and I still think he will, receiving 218 votes for Speaker does not mean there is a governing majority of 218 votes in the U.S. House.

It means there are 218 votes for McCarthy as Speaker.  It does not translate into 218 votes on other matters.

Time will tell, but the divisions within the GOP, as evidenced by the repeated Speakers’ votes, could easily replay themselves throughout the 118th Congress, making passing legislation extremely challenging.

What the political result of this uncertainty and lack of governing majority means is an open question, but it does not bode well for whoever is Speaker and does not bode well for the GOP.