Kevin McCarthy was removed from his role as speaker on Oct. 3 — the first ousting in House history. The scramble for a new House speaker began, and after just one day of winning the speaker nomination Steve Scalise withdrew his candidacy. The GOP came back to square one and after multiple rounds of voting on Oct. 25, Republican Rep. Mike Johnson for Louisiana was elected as the new House Speaker.
Since the ousting of McCarthy, California has zero House leaders which has the ability to cause a shift in the balance of power within the Republican party and the state’s representation in national policy, according to Sejal Govindarao of Politico. California’s seniority and prominence in the House of Representatives might diminish as it becomes less influential on the national stage.
California was once home to two top house leaders and the state has since made a significant impact in its role in American politics. California representatives have long held key leadership positions in the House. After Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi stepped down from the position she held since 2019 as speaker of the House, Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy was elected as her successor in 2023.
McCarthy held his speakership position for only 269 days, and he has been ousted by his own party. Now, the former speaker is unable to fully advocate for California Republican policymaking since being left without his continuing recruitment, which helped the GOP to keep a majority of seats. Al Weaver from The Hill wrote “some political operatives and analysts still believe he will try to help California-based candidates, though he may not have the clout he once did.”
Pelosi secured federal funding for infrastructure and health care facility projects in California and helped the state fight economic disparities by providing financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. “A skilled and effective speaker like Nancy Pelosi helps everyone, including citizens in their home state. An ineffective speaker who cannot pass legislation benefits nobody in their home state, or anywhere else,” said USC professor Johnathan Aronson.
A leading representative in the House can place a larger focus on issues specific to their respective state and districts. In a statement to Annenberg Media, USC professor Nicholas Cull said “...the gains or losses from having a speaker from your delegation are marginal compared to the loss that comes from the spectacle of dysfunction on Capitol Hill.”
The speaker has significant influence in determining which bills and issues are brought to the floor for consideration and when they are scheduled for debate and votes. With its decline in leading representation, California and its citizens may not receive as much attention in the Senate as its former speaker and advocate has been removed or stepped down, according to Al Weaver of The Hill. This prevents a concentration of power for the state’s influence in the direction of legislation and oversight.
California’s ability to shape national policies and advocate for its own interests are negatively affected through McCarthy’s removal as speaker of the house. Weaver said “[California] has long relied on top members,” leaving California with zero seniority within the House and questions to the state’s future influence on national politics.