Nine GOP candidates have thrown their hat in the ring to become the next House speaker as Republicans enter Day 20 without a leader.
The House of Representatives has been in chaos for nearly a month after eight Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, voted to remove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in an unprecedented move.
Since then, Republicans have yet to find a candidate who can secure 217 GOP votes, the magic number needed to secure the top leadership spot. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, tried three times last week and failed after Majority Leader Steve Scalise resigned before his nomination even came to a vote.
The next Republican speaker candidate can only afford to lose by four votes, a near-impossible task in a divided conference.
breaks down the nine candidates vying for the Republican top job during a closed GOP conference Monday night. After a secret vote expected on Tuesday, only one will emerge as speaker-designate.
The nine Republican candidates for House Speaker have the difficult task of securing 217 Republican votes to become the next House Republican leader
Majority Whip Tom Emmer
Emmer, R-Minn., is the favorite among the speakers. He has already received the endorsement of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and is seen as the establishment candidate who “knows how to do his job.”
As a leader, he has mastered the tricky task of getting a divided conference on board with important legislation, and he is known for his personable and easy-going manner – often using analogies to sports.
However, Trump’s allies on the Hill are working behind the scenes to brand him as a “never-Trump” candidate.
A source close to Trump tells that the former president’s complaints about Emmer, 62, date back to 2022, when Emmer was chairman of the Republican National Congress Committee (NRCC).
He allegedly told candidates that Trump would be “toxic” to their campaigns and was viewed as a liability by GOP donors for not defending Trump “vigorously” enough.
But Emmer’s supporters vigorously defend themselves, saying there is “no hard evidence” that he is in any way anti-Trump. They point to Emmer’s endorsement of the former president in 2016 and 2020, and Emmer’s glowing support of Trump himself in 2022.
Emmer, R-Minn., is the favorite among the speakers
Emmer’s allies also told that he had been in contact with the MAGA camp over the weekend and that his supporters were making weekly phone calls to top Trump surrogates. The whip even has an autographed photo of Trump in his Capitol office.
In addition, he has “conference-wide” support and a strong ability to raise funds through his “extensive” national donor network — which Republicans will need to retain the House majority in 2024.
But Trump allies note that Emmer has not yet endorsed the former president in 2024 – which has angered him behind the scenes. McCarthy and Scalise have also not yet endorsed Trump – who has only publicly supported Jordan in his failed speaker bid.
Trump doesn’t want another House speaker who is less friendly to him than McCarthy, a GOP aide added.
A source confirmed that Emmer and Trump spoke over the weekend, calling it a “productive” conversation.
Trump confirmed Monday during a campaign stop in New Hampshire that the pair had spoken, but declined to elaborate, saying he planned to keep abreast of the fight.
“There is only one person who can do all this – that is Jesus Christ.” If Jesus Christ came down and said I wanted to be a speaker, he would do it. Otherwise, I haven’t seen anyone who can guarantee that,” Trump added.
The anti-Emmer camp also points to his vote to certify the 2020 election – which angered Trump.
Another source tells that Emmer’s vote for the Equality Act is seen as a “slippery slope” for social conservatives concerned about increasing male competition in women’s sports and other issues.
Emmer supporters say efforts to label him anti-Trump show the former president’s allies have “nothing left in the tank.”
It’s the same playbook they tried to use during the whip race and it didn’t work, a source tells .
Mike Johnson, vice chairman of the GOP conference
Johnson, R-La., is a well-known member running on an “urgency” platform.
He currently sits on the House Judiciary Committee and is an ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he currently holds a leadership position.
Johnson, R-La., is a well-known member running on an “urgency” platform
“We all agree that the urgency of this hour requires a concrete plan and bold, decisive action,” Johnson, 51, wrote in a letter to his fellow Republican lawmakers over the weekend.
“It also requires a leader who will humble himself every day before Almighty God, selflessly serve the entire membership of this body, and fight ceaselessly for our conservative core principles and policies,” he continued.
Johnson spokeswoman Corinne Day tells that he is having many productive conversations with his colleagues and “feels good” about where he is at the moment.
Kevin Hern, chairman of the Republican Study Committee
Hern, R-Okla., is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative group on Capitol Hill.
He announced his bid last week after endorsing Jim Jordan in three rounds of voting.
“We need a different type of leader who has a proven track record, which is why I’m running for speaker of the House,” Hern, 61, said on X.
Hern, R-Okla., is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative group on Capitol Hill
Byron Donalds
The 44-year-old Donalds from Florida is considered the most Trump-friendly candidate of the group. He is a “rising” Republican star who is seen fairly regularly on Fox News hits and other media outlets.
Donalds is also a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, whose members voted to oust McCarthy 20 days ago. He says that although he is a member of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC), he has worked “very closely” with members of the center’s Main Street Caucus.
HFC called on the House to cancel a previously scheduled two-week district work period before the Thanksgiving holiday if a speaker has not yet been elected.
“We’ve worked well together and built a relationship of trust. “They know where I stand and they trust me to mean it when I say something,” he said on Newsmax over the weekend.
He has the support of Rep. Mike Waltz — who previously supported Jim Jordan’s candidacy for speaker — and also Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who opposed Jordan in every round.
The HFC –
Donalds, R-Florida, is considered the most Trump-friendly candidate of the group
Jack Bergman
Bergman, 76, of Michigan, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general, sits on the Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Budget Committee.
He says his 40 years in the military have shown him “what it takes to lead by example, bring people together and accomplish a mission.”
He has called for Congress to remain in session until a new speaker is elected. There are only 25 days left until the short-term spending bill expires and the government enters a shutdown.
Michigan Reps. John James, Tim Walberg, Lisa McClain and John Moolenaar have already endorsed Bergman.
Bergman, of Michigan, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general, sits on the Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Budget committees
Dan Meuser
“I come from the business world and if I run, I want to bring a business perspective to things and build consensus,” Meuser said Friday.
Meuser, 59, of Pennsylvania entered the race last week amid the chaos.
He plans to run on a business platform — he currently sits on the House Small Business and Financial Services committees.
Meuser, a native of Pennsylvania, entered the race on Friday
Gary Palmer
Palmer, R-Ala., has served as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee since 2019.
“The American people are desperate for authentic leadership.” Leadership that is stable and conservative. “That is why I have decided to take a step forward in the race for Speaker of the House of Representatives,” Palmer, 69, said in his announcement.
He sits on the powerful House Oversight Committee and the House Commerce Committee.
As of Monday afternoon, Palmer was the only candidate who had not yet signed Rep. Mike Flood’s “Unity Pledge” proposal, which would require any candidate to support the eventual nominee in the House.
Palmer, R-Ala., has served as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee since 2019.
Austin Scott
Scott, R-Ga., challenged Jordan for speaker last week and re-entered the race after the fiery Republican dropped out.
“If we want to be the majority, we have to act like the majority, and that means we have to do the right things in the right way,” Scott, 53, wrote on X.
“I supported Rep. Jim Jordan and voted for him for Speaker of the House. After he retires, I am running again for Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Scott lost to Jordan 124-81 during the secret ballot.
Scott, R-Ga., challenged Jordan for speaker last week and re-entered the race after the fiery Republican dropped out
Pete Sessions
Sessions, 68, of Texas wrote on X: “It’s time to get back to work for the American people.”
He boasts of his record of winning 63 seats as NRCC chairman.
For the past six years, he has chaired the House committee, which sets the agenda for voting in the House.
Committee Chairman Rep. Pete Sessions poses before a House Rules Committee meeting