Congresswoman Lauren Boebert poked fun at the GOP’s inability to agree on a House Speaker after Steve Scalise withdrew his nomination on Thursday.
As House Republicans struggle to find a member of their own party that can garner the 217 votes needed to elect a new Speaker, Boebert, said that even a mythical creature could get the job done.
“Colorado’s Bigfoot could get 217,” Boebert posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Boebert was referring to a rumored sasquatch sighting in her home state over the weekend.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The biped was seen roaming the San Juan National Forest in the southwest corner of the state. The OutThere Colorado account on X shared a video captured by train passengers on a ride from Durango to Silverton that showed the creature walking through the hillside and crouching down into the foliage.
People on social media speculated whether the creature was actually Bigfoot or a man in a gorilla costume. Boebert used the buzz generated by the sighting to point out an issue that has proven to be real—a House with no Speaker.
The reactions to Boebert’s jab were mixed. One person replied: “Yes, and he’d probably do a better job.” Another X user chimed in: “In the House with all of you? Probably could!”
However, some people stood behind Jim Jordan, a contender for the Speaker job, with one commenting: “Jim Jordan can get 217.” While one X user simply asked for any Republican at this point: “Even if he has to try 350 times like McCarthy. The people don’t ask for much. We just want an actual Republican as speaker.”
Colorado’s Bigfoot could get 217.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) October 13, 2023
It’s been over a week since Rep. Kevin McCarthy lost the Speakership on October 3 in a 216-210 vote. There was short-lived hope that Rep. Scalise of Louisiana would take over as Speaker after being nominated on Wednesday, but he quickly withdrew himself from consideration on Thursday.
“There are still some people that have their own agendas,” Scalise told reporters about his decision.
“This House of Representatives needs a Speaker, and we need to open up the House again,” he said. “But clearly, not everybody is there and they’re still schisms that have to get resolved.”
House Republicans were divided when Scalise was nominated in a 113 to 99 vote, with the minority supporting Jim Jordan from Ohio for the Speakership.
Some Congress members like Majorie Taylor Greene, Max Miller, and Nancy Mace voiced their continued support for Jordan after Scalise was nominated, but that does not mean Jordan will find it easy if he were to throw his hat back in.
Rep. Ann Wagner and Rep. Austin Scott said that they would not back Jordan, with Wagner telling NBC News “HELLO NO,” via text when asked if she would support the Ohio congressman.