Incoming members choose leadership, not lame duck members.
Candidates are chosen by the lame ducks in Nov.
The election is held in Jan. with the new congress. Whoever of the majority party gets the nomination in Nov. wins the election.
In order to win the election, a candidate must receive the majority of the votes cast (not necessarily a majority of the Houss seats) Any fight within the majority party over who is to be speaker *could* result in the candidate of the minority party winning the speakership. Therefore, “for the sake of the party,” the candidate chosen in Nov. wins the election.
IT’S A SCAM!!!!