A New Leader Emerges: House Republicans Vie for Speakership
A handful of House Republicans have thrown their hats into the ring for the highly coveted speakership position, while others carefully weigh their chances. This comes after Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the GOP’s nominee, failed in his third attempt at securing the leadership role on Friday.
The Republican plan to empower Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) as speaker pro tempore also hit a roadblock.
For the past two weeks, the House has been without a speaker since Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a stunning move. This unprecedented shake-up has led to what Rep. Gaetz describes as a “messy” constitutional process to find a new leader that can unite the GOP House members.
Many members have described the ongoing process as pure chaos.
After Rep. Jordan’s defeat in a closed-door GOP meeting, members have returned home for the weekend to regroup after a tense week.
The new speaker hopefuls are expected to officially declare their candidacy by Sunday.
The GOP conference will convene in Washington on Monday at 6:30 p.m. to hear from prospective candidates.
The earliest a new speaker nominee could be selected is Tuesday.
Rep. McHenry has expressed optimism that the House could elect a new speaker by the end of next week.
Rep. Jordan has pledged his support for the party’s next speaker nominee.
Among the members who have already thrown their hats in the ring are Reps. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Austin Scott (R-Ga.), Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).
Other Republican members, such as Reps. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), and Mike Johnson (R-La.), are exploring the possibility of running.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) leaves a closed-door House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 20, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Kevin Hern
Mr. Hern wasted no time in declaring his bid for the speakership, stating that he will be reaching out to his colleagues over the weekend. As the leader of the Republican Study Committee, a prominent conservative caucus with approximately 170 members, he believes he is the right candidate to lead with a proven track record of success.
Rep. Hern had previously considered a run for the top job and sought input from his colleagues before ultimately deciding against it.
U.S. House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) watches as the House of Representatives votes for a third time on whether to elevate Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to speaker of the House in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 20, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Tom Emmer
Rep. Emmer, the third-ranking House Republican as the majority whip, is actively seeking support from his colleagues for his bid for speaker. He has received an endorsement from the ousted speaker, Rep. McCarthy, who believes that Rep. Emmer is the right person to unite the conference and secure a majority.
However, Steve Bannon, the host of the “War Room” podcast and a former adviser to President Donald Trump, criticized Rep. Emmer, calling him a “Trump hater.”
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) leaves a closed-door House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 20, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Byron Donalds
Rep. Donalds, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus from Florida, wasted no time in declaring his candidacy. He aims to secure the border, fund the government responsibly, advance a conservative vision, and expand the Republican majority as the speaker of the House. He has acted as a bridge between moderates and conservatives in the GOP conference and has garnered support from some holdouts during Rep. Jordan’s failed bids.
If elected as speaker, Rep. Donalds promises that every voice in the GOP conference will have a seat at the table.
Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) appears on Urban View’s Helping Our Heroes Special, moderated by SiriusXM host Jennifer Hammond at the Cannon Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 16, 2018. (Larry French/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Jack Bergman
Initially hesitant, retired 3-star Marine general Rep. Bergman announced his bid for the speakership after Rep. Jordan’s third failed attempt. Confident in his ability to secure the necessary votes, Rep. Bergman is committed to doing what’s best for the nation and stabilizing the 118th Congress.
Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) leaves after the House Republicans held a series of meetings to vote for their nominee for speaker of the House, at the Longworth House Office Building in Washington on Oct. 13, 2023. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Austin Scott
Rep. Scott unexpectedly lost to Rep. Jordan in a previous internal conference vote. However, once Rep. Jordan was ousted, Rep. Scott wasted no time in announcing his bid for the speakership. He believes that the Democrats share some of the blame for the chaos surrounding the House speakership.
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) speaks with reporters before the House Republicans meeting securing the GOP nomination for House Speaker in Washington on Oct. 11, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Dan Meuser
Rep. Meuser is currently considering a run for speaker and emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in the Republican Conference. He believes that every member should have a role in policy-making, legislation, and communications to foster a team culture and move the party forward. He is open to supporting a candidate who shares this vision and has a better chance of securing the necessary votes.
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and other members of the Texas delegation hold a press conference about the Texas Rangers’ bicentennial, in Washington on March 1, 2023, in a still from video released by NTD. (NTD)
Pete Sessions
Rep. Sessions has also thrown his hat into the ring, believing that he can be a positive conservative leader who unites the conference.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) in Washington on June 14, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Mike Johnson
As the vice chair of the House Republican conference, Rep. Johnson is actively reaching out to his colleagues to gauge support for his potential run for speaker.
Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) at SiriusXM’s Congressional Veterans Forum at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington on May 23, 2017. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Jodey Arrington
Rep. Arrington, the chair of the House Budget Committee, is seriously considering a run for speaker and is currently praying about it. He expressed his intentions following Rep. Jordan’s third failed bid.
What qualifications and experiences do the candidates bring to the table?
However, the recent shake-up within the party and the vacuum in leadership has prompted him to reconsider and throw his hat into the ring. He believes that his experience and leadership within the Republican Study Committee will enable him to effectively unite and lead the House Republicans.
Austin Scott, another contender for the speakership, has also expressed his intention to run. As the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a proven conservative leader, he believes he has the necessary skills and qualities to navigate the challenges that lie ahead.
Tom Emmer, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, is seen as a strong candidate due to his fundraising abilities and his role in helping secure victories for House Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections.
Jack Bergman, Pete Sessions, and Byron Donalds are also among the contenders vying for the speakership position. These individuals bring their own unique set of skills and experiences to the table, and each believes they can effectively lead the House Republicans.
While Reps. Dan Meuser, Jodey Arrington, and Mike Johnson are still exploring the possibility of running, they have yet to officially declare their candidacies. These individuals are likely weighing their chances and considering the support they would receive from their colleagues before making a final decision.
The race for the speakership has created a sense of uncertainty within the Republican Party, as members look for a leader who can unite and guide them during this critical time. The ongoing chaos and uncertainty have led to a messy constitutional process, as the House seeks to find a new leader who can effectively lead the GOP House members.
The selection of a new speaker nominee is expected to take place in the coming weeks, with Rep. McHenry expressing optimism that a new speaker could be elected by the end of next week. However, with multiple candidates vying for the position, it remains to be seen who will emerge as the new leader of the House Republicans.
As the party continues to navigate through this challenging time, it will be crucial for the new speaker to not only unite the divided factions within the party but also effectively communicate and champion the Republican agenda. The stakes are high, and the Republican Party will be closely watching as its members vie for the highly coveted speakership position.
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