At only nine months into the 118th Congress, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives finds itself once again looking for a Speaker.
But the man recently removed as Speaker by efforts from within his own party decided he knew what the GOP would do this time.
California Republican Kevin McCarthy told Fox Business that controversial Ohio Representative Jim Jordan would win the Speakership:
"...on the first round of votes."
McCarthy also posted his prediction on X.
My prediction \u2192 @Jim_Jordan will be the 56th Speaker of the House— Kevin McCarthy (@Kevin McCarthy) 1697548334
McCarthy's latest attempt to predict GOP actions was as successful as when he was Speaker.
Jordan's bid fell short by 20 votes on the first round of balloting.
good thing McCarthy has never made a mistake counting votes— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1697554359
People were quick to let McCarthy know what they thought of his prediction, the GOP, and Jordan.
@SpeakerMcCarthy @Jim_Jordan My prediction \u2192 Democrats will regain the House in '24 and will have to repair the damage this dysfunctional majority will have left.— caring \ud83d\udc99\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf08\u270c\ud83c\udffb (@caring \ud83d\udc99\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf08\u270c\ud83c\udffb) 1697551979
@SpeakerMcCarthy @Jim_Jordan You've been right so many, many times, including when you just knew you wouldn't lose the House Speaker position when you told Matt Gaetz to bring it. I'm being sarcastic.— Island Girl - 100% Pro-Choice, Vote Blue (@Island Girl - 100% Pro-Choice, Vote Blue) 1697555345
@SpeakerMcCarthy @Jim_Jordan Say it 15 times— Outspoken\u2122\ufe0f (@Outspoken\u2122\ufe0f) 1697559118
@SpeakerMcCarthy @Jim_Jordan What a joke, and he lost on the first round. What does that tell you about the forward thinking of Republicans. They can\u2019t even bet on their own.— Santino Telles (@Santino Telles) 1697565727
@SpeakerMcCarthy @Jim_Jordan Well it's certainly not you and you've got no one else. Should be fun to watch the clown show in action once again. It won't be long before he does or doesn't do something and the cult turns on him as well.— \ud83c\udf38 \ud83d\udc3e A to the Z \ud83d\udc3e\ud83c\udf38 (@\ud83c\udf38 \ud83d\udc3e A to the Z \ud83d\udc3e\ud83c\udf38) 1697554810
@SpeakerMcCarthy @Jim_Jordan Great. Again.— Luke Zaleski (@Luke Zaleski) 1697548980
@atrupar It took 15 rounds of Voting & some people actually Like McCarthy \n\nVoting for Jordan is like electing Templeton the Rat \ud83d\udc00— The Resistor Sister\u00ae\ufe0f\u2665\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@The Resistor Sister\u00ae\ufe0f\u2665\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1697556579
@THE_vwwwv_NEST/X
@SpeakerMcCarthy @Jim_Jordan What a disaster the GOP has become. To put this pathetic man, who promoted an insurrection and coup, into this power is unforgivable.— TheRealMichaelScott \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@TheRealMichaelScott \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1697555778
@SpeakerMcCarthy @Jim_Jordan Justice is late, and you are one of the reasons\n\n\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa "There's two people I think Putin pays: \n\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa Rohrabacher and Trump. Swear to God." \n\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa -Kevin McCarthy 6-15-16 #TrumpRussia— \ud83c\udf3bJustice\u2696Now \ud83c\udf1f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@\ud83c\udf3bJustice\u2696Now \ud83c\udf1f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1697560193
@SpeakerMcCarthy @Jim_Jordan My prediction -> Kevin McCarthy will go down as the worst \u201cSpeaker\u201d in American history.— Jo (@Jo) 1697563801
McCarthy's own path to and tenure as Speaker was fraught with failure.
On January 3, 2023, McCarthy also failed in his first bid to become Speaker. It was the first time since 1923 that the first ballot did not produce a Speaker.
McCarthy finally became Speaker on the 15th ballot—the longest multi-ballot speaker election since 1859—on January 7, 2023 after major concessions to the right-wing Freedom Caucus. Among them was reinstating a rule allowing a single House member to call for a vote to remove the Speaker.
As predicted, the Republicans of the Freedom Caucus implemented that rule and ousted McCarthy after only nine months in office.
On October 3, Florida GOP Representative Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the Speakership, citing McCarthy working with Democrats as the reason.
The vote to remove McCarthy passed 216 - 210.
This marked the first time in United States history that the House of Representatives removed the Speaker from office.
The House is expected to move to a second round of voting on Wednesday morning.