Following a conversation with GOP Reps. Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Matt Gaetz (Fla.) after the Speaker vote on Tuesday Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said, “In chaos, anything is possible.” Ocasio-Cortez received quite a lot of attention on Twitter after she was spotted talking with the two Republican congressmen on the floor.
The two Republicans are two of the biggest opponents of House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in his attempt to become the Speaker. Ocasio-Cortez told MSNBC’s Alex Wagner in an interview that the discussion she had with the two representatives mainly related to the actions that the Democrats would seek to take if the Speaker votes were to continue. They also included questions about whether Democrats might “defect” and support McCarthy or leave the floor. In response to these questions, Ocasio-Cortez said that the Democrats were going to remain on the floor and continue to support House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) for Speaker.
She added that she believed it was important for the Democrats to send the message that they stand united with Hakeem Jeffries who is currently the minority leader. She added that the Democrats will not be “going anywhere” nor will there be any “defections.”
She continued to say “If they want to play ball, we’re open to that.”
The Speakership vote has led to chaos after the House failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot for the first time in a century. Since the Civil War this had only happened once before.
McCarthy received a little over 200 votes in all three of the voting rounds. So far, Jeffries has won more votes as all 212 Democrats are voting in his favor. However, for someone to be elected the Speaker they need to win the 218 votes majority.
