Coronavirus at the Convention - a 2020 TL

[OBD]

Republicans Seek Successful Convention in Orlando
August 23, 2020
Pundits universally agree that the Virtual Democratic Convention was incredibly underwhelming, plagued by widespread technology issues and the lack of authenticity that has hounded attempts at inspiring online speeches. While Joe Biden and California Senator Kamala Harris were nominated with fairly little issue, the DNC failed to turn the event into a boost for their campaign, with media attention focusing on the upcoming, in-person Republican Convention in Orlando in lieu of a shoddily-run online one, and the fierce protests that were sure to accompany it.

With the Biden campaign leading by an average of 8 points even after the convention fiasco, the RNC is determined to get their in-person convention right. All 50,000 attendees are expected to undergo thermal scans and a single coronavirus test before checking in to Amway Center, and Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to deploy the National Guard to help ‘keep order’ in the area immediately surrounding the convention hall. Meanwhile, reports indicate that #blacklivesmatter activists are also converging on the Central Floridan city, hoping to use the Convention as a vehicle to keep attention to their cause alive, and to protest conservative indifference to their movement. In a statement to the press, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer lamented Governor DeSantis for consenting to the convention against the will of himself and many residents of Orlando, and urged both protesters and law enforcement to keep the peace and avoid violence at all costs...

Orlando Wracked by Protests as RNC enters second day
August 25, 2020
Civil unrest in the City of Orlando flared once again last night, evoking the 1968 DNC riots and continuing to disrupt the convention and stoke fears of a coronavirus revival in Florida. Over 10,000 protesters from across the nation turned out to demand that Republicans support justice for African-Americans, often clashing with the National Guard in downtown Orlando and in the area surrounding the Amway Center. Both sides have accused the other of crimes, with law enforcement liberally using tear gas and numerous businesses getting looted or set on fire, including a hotel at which 250 RNC delegates were residing. President Trump has expressed rage on Twitter that his convention was sullied by protesters, while numerous prominent Democratic officials and liberal activists have fired back vehemently.

Meanwhile, many delegates have experienced issues getting to the convention hall through the throngs of protesters. Reportedly, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, among other lesser delegates, were physically confronted by maskless protesters and had to be escorted by armed law enforcement to the Amway Center...

BREAKING: 6 Convention attendees test positive for COVID-19 following convention, SC Senator Hospitalized
September 1, 2020
In a shocking twist, multiple RNC attendees have tested positive for coronavirus following the end of the convention, suggesting that the deadly virus had spread throughout the convention despite coronavirus testing being utilized at the convention doors - and, one positive test, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, has reportedly been hospitalized early this morning. While positive tests have thus far been limited to the South Carolina GOP delegation, the timing of the diagnoses seem to indicate that members either contracted coronavirus after the sole (initial) test, or got a false negative, indicating that at least one infected person has spread the virus at the convention, and that many other delegates, potentially including the POTUS, were exposed as well. In a statement to the press, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel urged attendees, most of whom had already returned home, to remain calm, self-quarantine, and immediately seek coronavirus testing. President Trump also weighed in via tweet, declaring that his family (and that of Vice President Pence) would be tested for the virus within 24 hours...

Anxiety in DC spreads as White House silence on COVID test continues - Pence reportedly positive
September 3, 2020
Amid the fallout from the RNC’s run-in with coronavirus, panic on Capitol Hill is mounting as the White House has gone silent on Trump’s coronavirus test result - which may indicate that the President has tested positive for the deadly virus. In a tweet on the 1st, Trump promised to take a test within the day, however, nearly 24 hours after his self-imposed deadline, his test results have not yet been released. According to a Washington Post source, there is ‘strong rumor’ that Vice President Pence and his wife Karen have tested positive, though it is unclear even to them what Trump’s results are. Concurrently with this emerging news, White House press corps were ejected from the property, and the building has apparently gone on lockdown. This adds to reports that several other prominent GOP politicians, including Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri and Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia, have tested positive, not to mention the fates of other delegates and Orlando residents...

REPORT: Trump positive, under quarantine in White House
September 4, 2020
After over 50 hours without news, Trump’s press secretary Kayleigh McEnany has confirmed what many across the nation suspected - the POTUS had contracted coronavirus, presumably from the Republican National Convention at Orlando. McEnany, through video call, also confirmed that several other White House officials, as well as Trump family members, were also infected, and that the building was currently held under lockdown under orders from the CDC (reportedly against the President’s will). The new wave of positive tests brings the total number of confirmed infected from the convention to 1,715 out of 50,000 attendees, as numerous other delegates have been ordered to quarantine by their state’s governors...


BREAKING: TRUMP SUFFERS HEART ATTACK, IN CRITICAL CONDITION
September 8, 2020
Walter Reed AMC officials have just confirmed that, in the wee hours of this morning, President Trump suffered a severe heart attack, with coronavirus, stress, and dietary/lifestyle choices identified as the exacerbating factors. Anecdotal reports indicate that at the time of the heart attack, Trump was in the middle of a tweet barrage, a theory corroborated by Twitter timestamps of the President’s latest (and incomplete) rant. With the President in critical condition, and with an ailing Vice President Mike Pence under lockdown at the same hospital, the chain of succession is unprecedentedly unclear, and Congress and cabinet officials are reportedly preparing for the possibility of swearing in House Speaker Pelosi as Acting President...

THE PRESIDENT IS DEAD
September 10, 2020
Multiple sources have just confirmed that President Donald Trump has passed away, due to complications from coronavirus infection, most likely related to his heart attack two days prior. While the official cause of death has not been released, hospital officials report that the President went into cardiac arrest late September 9 and, despite hours of desperate work by Walter Reed AMC doctors, could not be revived.

Many were far too shocked by this sudden, dire turn of events to react coherently to Trump’s passing, though politicians from across the political spectrum have sent condolences to Trump’s family. Politically, the potential ramifications are immense - with Vice President Pence in a near-coma (and thus incapable of taking the Oath of Office), Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to be recognized as Acting President within the day, despite an attempt by Trump hardliners to force her out and replace her with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy...

Speaker Pelosi takes oath, becomes 46th President
September 11, 2020
In a tense, somber event, made more so by the date it occurred on, a mask-wearing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts at the Capitol Building (with the White House and surrounding area remaining under quarantine). Pelosi, albeit unexpectedly, is the first female President in history, and is also the first House Speaker to ascend directly to the Presidency following a catastrophic event. In short remarks to the press following the ceremony, now-Acting President Pelosi expressed sorrow over the recent death of the President, and pledged to focus her (expected to be short) tenure on combating the resurgence of the coronavirus and ensuring the safety of all Americans...

Do you approve of President Trump? (posthumous) (conducted September 11-13 - Gallup)
No 47% (-6)
Yes 45% (+5)
Undecided/Neutral 8% (+1)

Who do you intend to vote for in the November 2020 election? (conducted September 11-13 - Gallup)
Joe Biden / Kamala Harris 49% (-2)
The GOP ticket 42% (+1)
Undecided/Other 9% (+1)
BIDEN +7

[Vidal]

This is going to be a ride...

[BigVic]

2020 has taken another twist

[Horsemask]

Looking forward to this!

[OBD]

Republicans in disarray as scramble to fill Presidential ticket begins
September 13, 2020
With the death of Donald Trump and the incapacitation of Mike Pence, the Republican ticket, nominated unanimously at the cursed convention in Orlando, was in need of complete overhaul - however, due to filing deadlines, it would be impossible to remove the Trump/Pence ticket from the ballot before the November general election, severely complicating the GOP effort to create an alternate ticket. However, allowing Biden to be elected by default is also unacceptable to the remaining Republican leadership. With another in-person convention to elect a new nominee being firmly out of the question, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is expected to announce an online convention, taking place beginning on the 22nd,  where all 2,550 original RNC delegates still alive will vote on a new ticket, with candidates having 7 days to publicly declare their intent before the second convention. Rumors indicate that the late President’s son, Donald Trump Jr., is very interested in making a run, and 2016 contenders like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are also expected to submit their names for consideration. Meanwhile, in a gesture of respect to the deceased President Trump, Democratic nominee Joe Biden has suspended campaigning and is expected to do so until the end of the week.

BREAKING: Pelosi signs Executive Order mandating that Vote-By-Mail be available in all states, citing public safety
September 15, 2020
On just the fifth day of her presidency, Acting President Pelosi stunned many in D.C by signing an executive order calling on all states to immediately make Vote-By-Mail an option for the November 2020 election. In a statement to the press, Pelosi cited the renewed danger of COVID-19 as the motivation for the order, pointing to the Republicans’s Orlando debacle, as well as the April fiasco of the Wisconsin Primary. While her actions were immediately applauded by Democratic politicians, including candidate Joe Biden, new House Speaker Adam Schiff, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, GOP outcry was immediate, with numerous conservatives slamming the order as ‘executive overreach’ and ‘enabling voter fraud’. States that have already authorized VBM for primaries are expected to quickly comply, however, the holdouts, led by Texas, are ‘not expected’ to modify their policy in light of the EO.

RNC outlines plan to hold White House despite ballot snafu - Trump Jr., Cruz in
September 18, 2020
Today, the RNC officially announced its plans to deal with backing an entirely new ticket without ballot access - with the oft-maligned Electoral College system serving as savior. Under the plan, those supporting the eventual Republican ticket would vote for the Trump/Pence ticket in November, and if victorious, Republican electors would be expected to go faithless and write in the new ticket. While many states under Republican control have previously stood against faithless electors, most notably in 2016, the RNC expects states to fall in line given the unique circumstances surrounding the election. And, Former Vice President Pence has given the plan his blessing from his Indiana home (where he is recuperating), signalling that he doesn’t expect to remain on the ticket due to health issues.

Meanwhile, the contest to replace Donald Trump at the head of the Republican ticket has begun to heat up. With the support of many of the 45th President’s most enthusiastic supporters, Donald Trump Jr. officially stepped into the race yesterday, promising to continue the legacy of his father - however, due to his inexperience, youth, and penchant for conspiracy theories, the GOP establishment is reportedly searching for an alternative. Meanwhile, Trump’s 2016 rival-turned-ally Ted Cruz has also declared his candidacy, citing his strong conservative record and support for Trump Senior - though the response to his entry was markedly less enthusiastic. Fmr. Governor Nikki Haley, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Mitt Romney, Governor Brian Kemp, Secretary Mike Pompeo, and Governor Mike DeWine have also been floated as potential candidates, though none have officially entered yet.

President Pelosi Approval Ratings
Approve 50% (--)
Disapprove 41% (--)
Undecided/Neutral 9% (--)
APPROVE +9

2020 General Election
Joe Biden / Kamala Harris 48% (-1)
Generic R 40% (-2)
Undecided/Other 12% (+3)
BIDEN +8

Who should get the GOP nomination? (survey of registered Republicans)
Donald Trump Jr. 28%
Ted Cruz 17%
Nikki Haley 8%
Brian Kemp 8%
Mike Pompeo 7%
Mike DeWine 5%
Marco Rubio 5%
Mitt Romney 4%
Undecided/Someone Else 18%

[Stm85]

Wouldn’t Pence ascend to the Presidency once he recovers? Or did he resign from office for health reasons?

[OBD]

Wouldn’t Pence ascend to the Presidency once he recovers? Or did he resign from office for health reasons?

Pence basically resigned due to health, he's currently in Indiana recuperating and won't play a major role going forward. He could run in 2024 though.

[President Biden Democrat]

This is very interesting. At first it seemed that the Republicans had success in their convention and the Democrats made a mistake, but no. It all at one in early September, came at once for the Republicans. I'm interested in the 2020 Election results (Including Senate and House). Very good timeline so far!

[OBD]

Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo to seek nomination, DeWine, Romney decline
September 20, 2020
As the GOP Emergency Convention approaches, two more formidable candidates have entered the contest for the party’s nomination - Nikki Haley, the former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor, as well as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Haley, a rising star in the party, is expected to gain the support of the party’s establishment - a GOP operative told us that they believe Haley, who would be the first Republican presidential nominee to be female, could be the key to bringing minorities and suburbs back into the GOP fold - and she’s already been endorsed by major figures like George W. Bush, Ohio Governor Mike Dewine, and Utah Senator Mitt Romney (the latter two also declined to enter themselves into the race). However, Pompeo also has a fighting chance at the nomination - another GOP operative said that he could be a compromise candidate between the Trumpist and establishment wings, as the fractures that nearly took down the GOP in 2016 open anew with the party’s former leader, Donald Trump Sr., six feet under.

With further announcements unlikely (though Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is reportedly mulling a last-minute run), familiar battle lines have once again been drawn - the Trumpists versus the establishment - and with the novel dynamic of an online convention, anything is possible.

Was Trump’s death an assasination? Conspiracy theories continue to spread in Trumpworld
September 21, 2020
Given the suddenness of President Trump’s demise and the right’s penchant for conspiracy theories on the Deep State, the emergence of the recent allegations against Democrats, the Republican establishment and the bureaucracy was highly predictable. Under the theories, which might have originated on Reddit, a secret operative planted the coronavirus at the Orlando convention (potentially in the food and/or the ventilation system), with the intention of killing Trump and incapacitating Pence, thus preserving the power of the Deep State. Interestingly, while many Republican officeholders were quick to dismiss these theories, a significant portion of the GOP base believes them to hold merit, and presidential candidate Donald Trump Jr. has publicly promoted them (as justification that his nomination is necessary for ‘draining the corrupt Washington swamp’). In a statement to the press, President Pelosi stated that the conspiracy theories ‘are fantastical and untrue’, and that ‘only lax security and testing at the Republican convention were responsible for the death of my predecessor’ - however, her statements are unlikely to calm the paranoid fervor on the far-right.

First Ballot of GOP Virtual Convention inconclusive
September 22, 2020
As the first day of the Republican renomination process draws to a close, no candidates have emerged with a win thus far. On the first ballot, Donald Trump Jr. took a plurality of votes - however, his path to 1,275 delegates remains unclear, given the GOP establishment’s staunch opposition to his campaign. Meanwhile, Haley and Pompeo (aka the ‘establishment candidates’) were unable to secure 50% of the vote combined, potentially allowing Texas Senator Ted Cruz to serve as kingmaker. With a lack of in-person interaction ‘severely hampering negotiations’, according to a GOP operative, a quick, easy conclusion to the party’s bid to recover post-Trump is unlikely.

GOP Virtual Convention, First Ballot 1,275 to win
Businessman Donald Trump Jr. (R-NY) 995 delegates (39.02%)
Fmr. Ambassador Nikki Haley (R-SC) 705 delegates (27.65%)
Secretary Mike Pompeo (R-KS) 442 delegates (17.33%)
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) 336 delegates (13.18%)
Others 72 delegates (2.82%)


President Pelosi Approval Ratings
Approve 49% (-1)
Disapprove 43% (+2)
Undecided/Neutral 8% (-1)
APPROVE +6

Biden vs. GOP Nominee Hypothetical Polling

vs. Generic R
Joe Biden / Kamala Harris 49% (+1)
Generic R 40% (--)
Undecided/Other 11% (-1)
BIDEN +9

vs. Donald Trump Jr.
Joe Biden / Kamala Harris 52%
Donald Trump Jr. 39%
Undecided/Other 9%
BIDEN +13

vs. Nikki Haley
Joe Biden / Kamala Harris 49%
Nikki Haley 42%
Undecided/Other 9%
BIDEN +7

vs. Mike Pompeo
Joe Biden / Kamala Harris 50%
Mike Pompeo 42%
Undecided/Other 8%
BIDEN +8

vs. Ted Cruz
Joe Biden / Kamala Harris 51%
Ted Cruz 41%
Undecided/Other 8%
BIDEN +10

Who Should Be The Republican Nominee? (among GOP voters)
Donald Trump Jr. 37%
Nikki Haley 22%
Ted Cruz 15%
Mike Pompeo 14%
Someone Else / Undecided 12%
TRUMP JR. +15

[Captain Chaos]

Corona-chaos at the convention.

[LabourJersey]

Don Jr is gonna be the nominee, isn't he?

[NewYorkExpress]

I think to make this more "realistic" you should probably do something about Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket too. There's no realistic scenario where in a pandemic during an election Trump dies and Biden lives, as they are both the same age, and as far as I'm aware, have similar risk factors health-wise.

[OBD]

Don Jr is gonna be the nominee, isn't he?

Perhaps. It'll be revealed next update

I think to make this more "realistic" you should probably do something about Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket too. There's no realistic scenario where in a pandemic during an election Trump dies and Biden lives, as they are both the same age, and as far as I'm aware, have similar risk factors health-wise.

Eh, Trump exposed himself to the coronavirus by hanging out in a building with 50,000 other people for four days, while Biden went for the online convention. I mean, Biden would definitely be in health trouble if he got it, but even for 80-year olds the death rate isn't 100%.

[John King wannabe]

Enjoying the timeline, is Pelosi still on her house district ballot even though she is President? And even then will she return as Speaker after the new President is sworn in?

[NewYorkExpress]

Enjoying the timeline, is Pelosi still on her house district ballot even though she is President? And even then will she return as Speaker after the new President is sworn in?

I don't think so?

There'd probably be a special election, since Pelosi got sworn in as President (assuming Governor Newsom even schedules one before or on election day- I'm not sure what the relevant California law is here.).

[Captain Chaos]

Enjoying the timeline, is Pelosi still on her house district ballot even though she is President? And even then will she return as Speaker after the new President is sworn in?

I don't think so?

There'd probably be a special election, since Pelosi got sworn in as President (assuming Governor Newsom even schedules one before or on election day- I'm not sure what the relevant California law is here.).

Since Pelosi ascends to the Presidency in September, her seat in the US House of Reps becomes vacant. Because her name will appear on the November general election ballot for her House seat, very unlikely that a special election will be ordered.

There are no party primaries in California, just an open primary in the Spring open to all candidates. The top two finishers regardless of party run in the general election.

Pelosi will be President until January 20, 2021. Then she will return to Congress to be sworn in to her House seat (assuming she wins that race) and is probably elected to her previous job of Speaker.

[OBD]

Enjoying the timeline, is Pelosi still on her house district ballot even though she is President? And even then will she return as Speaker after the new President is sworn in?

I don't think so?

There'd probably be a special election, since Pelosi got sworn in as President (assuming Governor Newsom even schedules one before or on election day- I'm not sure what the relevant California law is here.).

Since Pelosi ascends to the Presidency in September, her seat in the US House of Reps becomes vacant. Because her name will appear on the November general election ballot for her House seat, very unlikely that a special election will be ordered.

There are no party primaries in California, just an open primary in the Spring open to all candidates. The top two finishers regardless of party run in the general election.

Pelosi will be President until January 20, 2021. Then she will return to Congress to be sworn in to her House seat (assuming she wins that race) and is probably elected to her previous job of Speaker.

It’s not a biggie, but I think this sums it up pretty well. Her seat's vacant as of now.

In other news, an update should drop within the next few days.

[OBD]

GOP Convention - Live Updates
September 24, 2020 - 11:26 AM EST
After 48 hours of deadlock, Donald Trump Jr. finally got a break - in the form of an endorsement from Texas senator and former candidate Ted Cruz. Cruz, who declared his run on a Evangelical conservative platform, failed to gain traction outside of the Texas delegation - however, with no candidate reaching 15%, his delegates had become highly coveted. The endorsement, which some speculate may stem from Cruz being promised the VP slot, could put the late President’s son above the crucial 1,275 delegate tally needed to win - however, rumblings from Governor Abbott and his allies hint that something may be amiss...

September 24, 2020 - 4:01 PM EST
In a surprising turn of events, a large contingent of Cruz delegates - led by Texan Governor Greg Abbott - has publiclly announced their opposition to Trump Jr. receiving the nomination. The group of delegates, who hail almost exclusively from Texas and the South, cited Trump Jr.’s inexperience and questionable views on conspiracy theories as reasons why he could not be allowed to be the Republican nominee. While Abbott and his compatriots have not yet endorsed Haley or Pompeo, insider sources believe that the Governor of Texas wields enough influence to deny Trump Jr. the nomination. Meanwhile, as the President’s son rails against ‘Deep State influence’ on Twitter, the Haley campaign and RNC leaders are reportedly putting heavy pressure on the Pompeo campaign to drop out for the sake of party unity...

September 24, 2020 - 7:15 PM EST
As the RNC prepares to vote on its fifth ballot, FOX News has just confirmed that Secretary of State Pompeo will drop out of the race, endorsing Nikki Haley and seemingly cementing the establishment’s control over the party. With the presumed support of the Abbott delegation, the former UN Ambassador and Governor is expected to gain a majority on the fifth ballot vote, which will occur shortly. Notably, the supporters of Donald Trump Jr. have forced an online voice vote (citing the insecurity of the RNC’s online voting platform), meaning that we may not know the results for hours...

September 24, 2020 - 9:43 PM EST
In yet another turn in a dramatic convention, Nikki Haley has surprisingly fallen short of a majority yet again, by a mere 8 votes. Haley gained nearly all of Pompeo’s delegates to secure the support of 49.7% of the convention (compared to around 48% for Trump Jr.) - however, yet another renegade faction (led by Trump hardliner Kris Kobach) as well as numerous abstentions have left the convention deadlocked, once more. A visibly annoyed and exhausted Ronna McDaniel told reporters that the online convention would resume on the 25th, while supporters of Donald Trump Jr. celebrated their ‘victory against the establishment’...

September 25, 2020 - 12:00 AM EST
CNN flash poll: 51% of GOP voters supports Trump Jr. nomination, against 45% for Haley...

September 25, 2020 - 2:30 PM EST
In yet another voice vote conducted just a few hours earlier, Nikki Haley managed to close to within 5 votes of the nomination, as the RNC commenced efforts to actively lobby holdout delegates - however, several GOP sources believe that further changes in vote are unlikely, and report that the Haley campaign has sent out feelers to the Trump Jr. campaign, and were rebuffed...

BREAKING: It’s Haley!
September 26, 2020 - 8:48 AM EST
After a late night filled with tense negotiations between the Haley and Trump Jr. camps, the duelling factions of the Republican Party have at last come to an agreement, and have nominated a ticket. Former Governor Nikki Haley, who had come within 3 votes of securing the nomination outright before the deal with Trump Jr., was just nominated by a resounding majority of the RNC after promising the VP slot to Donald Trump Jr. - the ticket secured the votes of over 90% of the delegates, with a slighted Ted Cruz leading the dissendents. While GOP insiders report that Trump Jr. was far from Haley’s first choice for VP, her inability to secure a majority ultimately forced her hand. The historic Haley/Trump Jr. ticket promises to unite the Republican party, however, its ability to appeal to independents remains unclear.

President Pelosi Approval Ratings
Approve 49% (--)
Disapprove 44% (+1)
Undecided/Neutral 7% (-1)
APPROVE +5

2020 General Election
Joe Biden / Kamala Harris 51% (+2)
Nikki Haley / Donald Trump Jr. 42% (+2)
Undecided/Other 7% (-4)
BIDEN +9

Tossup - Tied
30% - within 5 points
50% - within 10 points
70% - safe

[President Biden Democrat]

In this election, Biden would win in a landslide. It makes sense that Haley is the nominee. Biden would get roughly 400 electoral votes, maybe a little less.

[BigVic]

Similar to Obama 08 but swap IN for AZ and add in TX

[Captain Chaos]

Howdy, Oregon Blue Dog. Will this TL continue or is this a casualty of writer's block?

[OBD]

Howdy, Oregon Blue Dog. Will this TL continue or is this a casualty of writer's block?

I could definitely bring this back if there’s interest. I do have other commitments for the next two weeks though so it may have to wait til then.

[Ferguson97]

So who is gonna be President from January 3, 2021 - January 19, 2021?

Since Pelosi would resign to return to her House seat, and and I doubt that the newly elected Speaker (likely Hakeem Jeffires) would want to be President for two weeks and lose his Speakership... same goes for the President pro tempore (likely Patrick Leahy or Chuck Grassley), no incentive for them to resign from the Senate.

Does this mean 47th President Mike Pompeo?

[Captain Chaos]

I believe that Pelosi will serve as POTUS until January 20, 2021 and delay her swearing-in to her Congressional seat until that date. House most likely elects an interim Speaker who will step down for Pelosi.

[Ferguson97]

I believe that Pelosi will serve as POTUS until January 20, 2021 and delay her swearing-in to her Congressional seat until that date. House most likely elects an interim Speaker who will step down for Pelosi.

Pelosi has said she will step down from the Speakership in 2021 regardless, though I guess that could change ITTL given the circumstances.