Most Americans, including Republicans and Democrats, are tired of the House failing to elect a speaker. According to a USA Today and Suffolk University poll of 1,000 registered voters, 67% said the House needs to elect a speaker now.
Though Republicans and Democrats struggle to trust each other, a majority of Americans agree that Congress needs to elect a new speaker as soon as possible.
- 86% of Democrats want a speaker elected now
- 57% of Republicans want a speaker elected now
- 59% of Independents want a speaker elected now
These numbers come after Republicans have failed for three weeks to decide on and elect a new speaker after ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in a historic vote. A quarter of those asked responded they didn’t care whether a new speaker was elected.
The director of Suffolk University’s political research center, David Paleologos, oversaw the polling and said the agreement across Americans of different party affiliations is unusual.
“How often do you see Democrats, Republicans, and Independents agree on anything in D.C.?” Paleologos said. “Look at every demographic: gender, geography, age, race, education level, income, political philosophy, even those who trust CNN verse Fox News. They are all speaking the same seven words in unison: ‘elect a speaker and do your job.’”
House Republicans are back to square one in search of a nominee after Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, pulled out of the speaker race following three failed votes on the floor. If Republicans can agree on who to nominate, a vote for a new speaker could happen as early as Tuesday, Oct. 24.
