Right now, House Republicans are playing a high-stakes game of “Musical Chairs,” but instead of circling folding chairs, they are circling the coveted Speaker’s gavel. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) became the latest candidate to lose this game, which has elicited outrage from the conservative base.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who helped set these events in motion by leading the effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), blasted the vote by secret ballot to drop Jordan as the Republican nominee, referring to it as “swampy.”

While addressing reporters shortly after the vote, Gaetz said:

"The most popular Republican in the United States Congress was just knifed by a secret ballot, in a private meeting, in the basement of the Capitol. It's as swampy as swamp gets, and Jim Jordan deserved better than that."

The fact that Republicans voted in a secret ballot to drop Jordan has been an issue for conservative voters – especially those who favored McCarthy’s ouster. But how will this affect relations between the conservative and moderate establishment factions of the GOP in the House?

The secret ballot is a method that is touted for its ability to protect individual voters from peer pressure. But when it is used in a closed-door meeting among a gaggle of politicians, it raises some serious questions. Gaetz likened the process to the “Washington swamp.” For those who favor transparency, it is tough not to agree. Indeed, it shields politicians from accountability and allows them to escape scrutiny from their constituents.

Jordan’s downfall seems to further embody the deep division occurring among House Republicans and the voting base. The rift threatens to split the party at its seams, especially with this latest development. It highlights the internal civil war that has been happening in the party since former President Donald Trump jumped onto the political stage.

This takes us to another important question: What does this mean for Congress going forward? Eventually, House Republicans will pick a speaker. The decision will likely be controversial, no matter who it is. The fact that some might believe Jordan was cheated out of a fair chance to take up the gavel will only increase tensions.

In light of this, it makes sense to speculate about what this could mean as far as passing legislation in the future. If tensions among House Republicans grow more intense, it could make it much harder to pass bipartisan legislation. It will probably make for more gridlock in the legislative process, as passing legislation will be akin to herding cats.

To sum it up, the Jordan saga might be the storyline twist foreshadowing an even more contentious and divided political atmosphere within the GOP. It makes for decent television and Twitter fodder, but it could force the legislative branch to a standstill on many issues.

Of course, my libertarian self relishes the idea that the federal government won’t be able to pass more laws that negatively affect the populace. But for the rest of the country, it could contribute to the growing dissatisfaction with the government as it continues failing to address the problems America is facing.