Newt Gingrich is calling for members of the U.S. House of Representatives to elect a female speaker. 

Gingrich, himself a former speaker of the House, did so during an appearance over the weekend on the Fox News Channel's Fox News Sunday. 

The background, here, is that the House remains without a speaker following the ouster of former speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Last week, it appeared as though U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) could become the next speaker. But, after Jordan lost three speaker votes, House Republicans decided to remove him as a nominee for the speakership.

Now, it appears that House Republicans are looking to put forth a new speaker nominee.

"I wish they had a woman candidate"

During his Fox News appearance, Gingrich weighed in on the speakership situation, calling it "a mess" and directing blame at those eight House Republicans who joined the Democrats to remove McCarthy from his speakership post.

Gingrich went on to express a "wish" that House Republicans, going forward, will choose a female speaker nominee.

"I wish they had a woman candidate, of all the candidates, they've got running, you know," Gingrich said.

The former House speaker even made some suggestions, including U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Beth Van Duyne (R-TX).

As for why he wants the nominee to be a woman, Gingrich said:

I think, in some ways, given the level of rowdiness, and the level of juvenile behavior, it's conceivable that a female speaker will be more effective, and actually getting them all to get together and stick together. That's the key. They have to learn to stick together.

What now?

During the interview, Gingrich also expressed a wish that House Republicans would go about picking a speaker in a bit more unified manner, especially considering that, with their majority, they have the votes to pick a speaker of their choosing.

"First, they should have stayed in. When they get back here, they should stay in, they should go into a conference, not come out, bring food in and stay there, and very simple test, can you get 217 votes? They shouldn't bring anybody out until they have 217," Gingrich said.

He added, "And, second, that 217 has to be committed not just to elect a speaker, but to stick together for the next five or six months."

We'll have to see if House Republicans take Gingrich's advice. It already appears that they will not take his advice with regard to nominating a female for the speakership.

The Washington Examiner reports:

Reps. Kevin Hern (R-OK), Austin Scott (R-GA), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Jack Bergman (R-MI), and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) are asking the conference to consider them to be the next speaker. McCarthy has endorsed Emmer.