McCarthy is out: These are the possible candidates for Speaker of the House

Matt Gaetz accomplished his goal on Tuesday. Through a motion to vacate, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, since he considered his negotiations with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown as a betrayal to the Republican Conference. With McCarthy gone, who will take the gavel?

McCarthy became the first House Speaker to be removed in US history. The final vote ended with 216 votes in favor and 210 against, with these eight Republicans voting with the majority: Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Ken Buck (R-CO), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eli Crane ( R-AZ), Bob Good (R-VA), Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Matt Rosendale (R-MT), who of course were joined by Gaetz.

Although there is still no clear candidate, some options are emerging, taking into account leadership positions and the ability to unite conservatives with more moderate Republicans.

Steve Scalise

Possibly the most obvious option. McCarthy's number two turned out to be a bridge between the most conservative wing and leadership, and he had already emerged as a possible option at the beginning of the year when it was not known if McCarthy would be chosen speaker in the first place.

Steve Scalise came to the House in 2008 and since then he has not stopped climbing the food chain until he becomes leader of the Republican majority in January 2023. While he is undergoing chemotherapy treatment due to blood cancer, he turns out to be liked by Gaetz. “I'm not going to overlook Steve Scalise just because he has blood cancer,” he said Tuesday.

Elise Stefanik

Stefanik is the highest-ranking woman in the House of Representatives. She currently chairs the Republican Conference, a position previously held by Liz Cheney, and is one of Donald Trump's favorites, to such an extent that it is rumored that she could be part of his potential cabinet if he wins a second term.

If she wins, she would tie James G. Blaine as the youngest speaker in House history. The former Maine congressman came to office in 1869 at the age of 39, the same age as Stefanik.

Tom Emmer

Tom Emmer is number three in the Republican leadership and someone who is quite popular among House conservatives, perhaps because of his constant references to hockey and his dry style of humor.

Although in the past he expressed that he would not be interested in the position, Paul Ryan's story could repeat itself: a person who had no ambitions to be Speaker of the House but circumstances led him directly to take over.

Jim Jordan

The current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee was the second most-voted option after McCarthy at the beginning of the year. Although he reiterated that he was not interested in the position, he was the favorite option of the conservative faction.

His origins in the House Freedom Caucus and his popularity in conservative channels make him at least a decisive figure when it comes to agreeing on a new speaker.

Other options

Tom Cole, Byron Donalds, Patrick McHenry (interim) and Garrett Graves are other names being considered since McCarthy was fired as Speaker of the House.