The number of challenges Republicans will have to tackle as the 2024 elections approach is piling up, but their path to victory doesn't appear to be any harder than for Democrats.
The House voted 216-210 to oust McCarthy more than a week ago. This week, members nominated Rep. Steve Scalise to go to the floor as their speaker-designee before he pulled out of the race on Thursday because he couldn't win enough support. Republicans are weighing if Rep. Jim Jordan is a viable option, but the chance of another marathon of public votes occurring appears likely as the Judiciary Committee chairman has alienated members permanently and left others undecided.
While McCarthy worked with Democrats to pass the stopgap measure on Sept. 30, more respondents, 54%, have confidence in Republicans in the chamber than they do in President Joe Biden to handle the nation’s most pressing issues; 45% say they believe in Biden’s leadership and this number has not changed since this summer.