As the House of Representatives prepares to select a replacement for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a group of forty-five allies have called for "fundamental changes" to make it more difficult for a small faction to oust the new speaker. The slim 221-212 Republican majority in the House adds tension to the situation as Congress approaches a new government shutdown deadline on November 17th.

The one-page letter, largely comprised of centrists, emphasizes the need for unspecified rule changes that would prevent a few Republicans from aligning with Democrats to vote out a speaker or block party priorities. The signatories argue that the majority should not be dictated by an alliance between the chaos caucus and the minority party that would only ensure the failure of the next speaker. Many of these signatories have already called for a change in the rule that allows a single lawmaker to force a vote to remove the speaker.

Currently, two Republican lawmakers, Representative Steve Scalise and Representative Jim Jordan, are campaigning to replace McCarthy. Scalise, who held the second position on the leadership ladder, and Jordan, an outspoken conservative known for leading investigations into the Biden administration, both seek the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Representative Kevin Hern has also hinted at a possible run.

The news of Trump possibly attending a closed-door forum for Republican speaker candidates has added another layer of intrigue to the situation. Some media outlets speculate that Trump may visit Washington on Tuesday to meet with fellow Republicans. This would mark his first visit to Capitol Hill since the January 6th attack on the Capitol. It remains unclear whether Trump will ask lawmakers to vote for him as speaker, although at least two House Republicans have expressed their support for him.

Trump's potential involvement in the speaker selection process comes as he faces ongoing legal challenges. Currently facing a civil fraud trial, Trump acknowledged the calls for him to serve as speaker but stated that his focus remains on the 2024 election. House rules do not require the speaker to be a member of Congress, but Republicans would require their leaders to step aside if indicted for a felony carrying a prison sentence of at least two years. Trump currently faces 91 felony counts in four separate criminal cases, including charges related to his attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election.

With the House currently leaderless after McCarthy's removal, Republicans are set to meet behind closed doors to hear from their speaker candidates next Tuesday, followed by a vote the following day. The candidate who secures a majority of the 435-seat chamber will become the next speaker. However, with Republicans holding a narrow 221-212 majority, winning the speaker's gavel may prove challenging, particularly as Democrats are expected to vote for their leader, Representative Hakeem Jeffries.