The ongoing race to find the next Speaker of the House of Representatives is sending shock waves through the Democratic Party. Despite winning a majority of seats in the 2018 midterm elections, Democratic House members have yet to decide upon a leader and it looks like the race may stretch into a second week.
While the impasse has caused plenty of anxiety within party ranks, there is another side of the equation that should bring calm and focus to Democrats. As the party’s hierarchy remains in flux, the Democrats have an unprecedented opportunity to enact meaningful change to benefit their agenda.
The current situation puts every candidate for Speaker’s future under scrutiny. Without the assurance of a ceiling of votes or the ability to rely upon party leaders, Democratic contenders must instead use features and values that differentiate them from the others to stand out and win support. In this environment, progressive policies and bold changes are more likely to be heard and championed as the stepping stones to the promised land sought by the Democratic masses.
In the House of Representatives, it’s not always the most qualified candidate who is chosen for office — often, it’s the most strategic and ambitious surpriser who works the hardest. This fact with the current stalemate has put a spotlight on the policy positions of all the candidates in an effort to gain the upper hand.
Moreover, with no settlement in sight and no clearly defined leader in sight, the Democrats can make use of their indefinite timeline to focus on issues that matter. The uncertainty brings with it an opportunity to present specific proposals that will reward voters in the future. This is the ultimate reward for Democrats: a chance to get the results they need — not just from the House but from constituencies across the country.
All in all, Democrats should take heart in the current Speaker of the House chaos. While it can be tempting to see the lack of progress as a sign of weakness, the truth is that it could ultimately prove to be a gift for the party — bringing with it the potential for meaningful change and building consensus where it may have been lacking before.