The election for House Speaker requires a majority, and a tie doesnt count. So with the current House at 434 members, if every member votes for someone then one person will need 218 votes to get the job. If no one reaches that, they just keep voting.
If two Republicans vote for someone else, that vote fails (since 217 is not a majority) and they hold another one. If those two, instead, do not vote (or vote “present”), then the vote passes because he will just meet the majority of votes cast after those two are removed. So it’s significant if these Reps vote for someone else vs. just abstaining.
The election for House Speaker requires a majority, and a tie doesnt count. So with the current House at 434 members, if every member votes for someone then one person will need 218 votes to get the job. If no one reaches that, they just keep voting.
If two Republicans vote for someone else, that vote fails (since 217 is not a majority) and they hold another one. If those two, instead, do not vote (or vote “present”), then the vote passes because he will just meet the majority of votes cast after those two are removed. So it’s significant if these Reps vote for someone else vs. just abstaining.