Yes there is. If all the Republicans threw their support behind him along with enough conservative Democrats. Normally voting for Speaker is just a formality. Each party has a candidate, and all the member vote strictly along party lines. It could get really interesting if a cross-partizan coalition could thwart the Democrat leadership.
Back in the '80s Republicans proposed such deals with conservative and moderate Democrats to thwart the power of the left wing Democrats. The Democrats only have about a 24 seat majority that is actually smaller than the lame duck Republican majority. I don't think they know how to keep a slim majority together as effectively as Republicans have been able to.
If all the Republicans threw their support behind him along with enough conservative Democrats. Normally voting for Speaker is just a formality. Each party has a candidate, and all the member vote strictly along party lines. It could get really interesting if a cross-partizan coalition could thwart the Democrat leadership. Back in the '80s Republicans proposed such deals with conservative and moderate Democrats to thwart the power of the left wing Democrats. The Democrats only have about a 24 seat majority that is actually smaller than the lame duck Republican majority. I don't think they know how to keep a slim majority together as effectively as Republicans have been able to.It sounds great, but is fatally flawed. The Republicans of the '80s had three things the Republicans of today lack:
1. Guts.
2. Imagination.
3. Leadership.
Today's Republicans are a pale imitation of Republicans of yesteryear.