The failure of the Republican Party to elect Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Speaker of the House, in Newt Gingrich’s opinion, is a sign of progress rather than internal strife. The former House Speaker believes that the process instead shows that the Party is capable of having “healthy, tough, meaningful dialogue.”

McCarthy tried to become Speaker by offering compromises that would lessen his influence and elevate the positions of other Republicans on committees. Gingrich described McCarthy as a “solid conservative” who would work with other Republicans to win their support.

Gingrich’s attitude is completely at odds with that of President Joe Biden, who described the multiple vote rounds as a “embarrassing” foreign exhibition of the U.S. government. Gingrich views this procedure as proof of the Party’s democracy and power. Additionally, he noted that the last time the Republicans dragged out the Speakership vote was in 1923, when it required nine ballots, but that the next year, the GOP won 22 seats.

This might prove advantageous for the Republican Party, which is currently in the minority in both houses of the US Congress. Given the Democratic Party’s current legislative majority, the GOP could use some good news, so this is may prove heartening for those in the party.