House conservatives demand recess be canceled unless speaker is elected

House Republicans in the conservative Freedom Caucus are demanding party leaders cancel the two-week recess until lawmakers can elect a new speaker and restart legislative business in the lower chamber after nearly three weeks at a standstill.

The House is scheduled to adjourn on Friday and not return until the second week of November, which would leave lawmakers with only two weeks to pass some sort of spending bill to avoid a government shutdown on Nov. 17. Instead, hard-line conservatives are pushing to stay in session until a new speaker is chosen, which could come as early as this week.

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“Republican leadership should have kept Republicans in Washington over the weekend. Our work is not done,” the caucus said in a statement on Monday. “In fact, we are starting at ground zero after Jim Jordan, arguably one of the most popular Republicans in the country, was rejected by House Republicans. We must proceed with all possible speed and determination.”

The House adjourned for recess on Friday shortly after Republicans voted to drop Jordan, a Freedom Caucus co-founder, as their party nominee for speaker. The vote catapulted lawmakers back to square one, prompting GOP leaders to send members home for the weekend.

Republicans are scheduled to reconvene for a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. on Monday as nine lawmakers vie for the position, with a closed-door nominating vote not expected until Tuesday morning.

“Intentional and unnecessary delays must end,” the lawmakers wrote. “It serves only the lobbyists of the swamp and defenders of the status quo to continue to drag out the process.”

It’s not clear if House leaders will alter the schedule ahead of next week, although an announcement on the matter could be made at any time. Several House Republicans previously made calls to stay in Washington, lamenting that party leaders must act with a sense of urgency to elect their next leader.

“For me, there’s a sense of urgency. Clearly not with some of leadership because they’re sending us home,” Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) said on Friday.

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“We shouldn’t stop and go home just because it’s the weekend,” he added.

It’s been 20 days since the House voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), leaving the lower chamber in disarray and without a path forward, as lawmakers cannot conduct any legislative business without the top position filled.