Lmao. The odds a non-Republican ends up as Speaker is still near-zero.
We'll see. I believe it's quite likely that the winner is ultimately a moderate compromise candidate (who may be a Republican like Fitzpatrick, or a Blue Dog type Democrat).
I actually think, given the 19 House GOPers who aren't budging from their anti-McCarthy stance, McCarthy's road to the speakership lies in somehow forging some kind of a compromise with the Democrats to win some of their votes. It's highly unlikely.
I mean, really. How do you see this playing out for a *conservative* Republican to win the speakership? Like, what likely scenario do you see wherein McCarthy or Jordan or somebody like them actually gets 218?
There is back room dealing to get enough HFC/Dems to abstain from voting, thus giving McCarthy the majority he needs.
