As the chaos of the U.S House of Representatives speaker’s election continues, moderate representatives from both major parties are being seen as a possible source of stability. But why haven’t these representatives united to form a powerful, centrist alliance?
First, let’s look at the current challenge in the House. There are two main factions: progressive and conservative Democrats fighting a stalemate over who should be the next House Speaker. Both sides are locked in since neither party has enough votes to elect their preferred candidate. Moderates, however, are holding the key to a resolution.
But, since the Democratic Party’s power is concentrated on its progressive base, many moderates have been hesitant to step into the limelight. It’s no wonder that the idea of a centrist alliance uniting to break the deadlock has not gained much traction.
The lack of an arrangement to give moderates a louder voice has to do with the fact that traditionally, elected representatives in Congress represent the wishes of their constituents first. Consequently, risks of campaigning against their base to form a centrist alliance could be too great.
Plus, it could be argued that current political dynamics make it difficult for a unified moderate bloc to exist in the long-term. More extreme politician are seen as preferable to voters on both sides of the aisle. As a result, moderates who try to form an alliance could find themselves marginalized if they aren’t able to hold their ground against their more extreme counterparts.
Moreover, even if one were to magically appear, a moderate bloc could have trouble making real change given the House’s power structure. Even with a united majority, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party could launch a filibuster on any policy initiative the moderate coalition tries to pass. As a result, a centrist alliance could be quickly discouraged from pursuing more radical positions.
Amidst the chaos of the speaker’s election, many are looking to moderates as a possible source of stability. But the obstacles that have prevented such an alliance from forming reveal why such an arrangement may not be feasible in the current political climate. Nevertheless, at some point, the voices of reason may be able to break through the noise in order to create a powerful, unified centrist bloc that could make genuine change in Congress.