Is it possible to lose the House and keep the Speaker spot?

[DownWithTheLeft]

Someone posted somewhere that John Murtha receieved votes for speaker recently, could there be a situation in which the vote breaks down something like this:

Hassert 217
Pelosi 216
Murtha 2

[sethm0]

 Unlikely. There may be some dissention in the Democratic ranks and a move to replace Pelosi in a caucus vote, but once the caucus vote is finalized I doubt anyone will break ranks this time.

[Nym90]

A majority is required to be elected Speaker, so the House would have to revote if that happened.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

A majority is required to be elected Speaker, so the House would have to revote if that happened.

The requirement for a majority can be suspended by a majority vote as happened with the 33rd Congress in 1855 where the speaker whas chosen on a plurality basis.  Failure to obtain a majority led to delays in selecting a Speaker for the 37th and the 68th Congresses.

[TomC]

This kind of thing happened here in the state Senate (in TN)- two Republicans voted to keep long serving Dem senator/Lt Gov Wilder. I doubt it happens in the House of Reps though.

[RBH]

Democrat Willie Brown got Republican Doris Allen elected Speaker of the California House by combining her vote with the votes of the Democrats.

She got removed from office via recall.

Brown tried the same thing with Brian Setencich, and Setencich got removed via recall too.

[7,052,770]

God, I hope Gene Taylor isn't put in such an awkward position.

He's the one who's always voted Murtha rather than Pelosi