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In Washington, Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, who had been
calling GOP colleagues to see if he would have their support for the top job,
received the endorsement of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy after Rep. Jim
Jordan's campaign for speaker of the US House failed on Friday.
He is qualified for the position. He can bring
the conference together, according to a statement from McCarthy. He is aware of
how the conference works. Additionally, he is aware of what it takes to gain
and hold a majority.
With McCarthy's support, Emmer would overtake
the competition to win the position, while other candidates are also
considering a bid.
Emmer has been thought of as a potential
successor since McCarthy, a Republican from California, was removed as speaker
earlier this month.
But if Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La, were elected
speaker, Emmer, who currently occupies the No. 3 position as House majority
whip, would move up to No. 2 and assume the role of majority leader. But like
Jordan, Scalise was unable to secure the 217 votes needed on the House floor to
secure the position.On Friday, Ohio Republican Jordan lost not only a third
vote for speaker on the floor but also a vote in which other Republican members
expressed their disapproval of him as speaker designate. Any Republican member
who wishes to run for the highest Republican leadership post in the U.S. House
now has the opportunity to do so.
Members were given till Sunday to determine
whether or not to run.
After the Friday afternoon closed-door
discussion ended, according to a person with knowledge of the incident, Emmer
started calling his fellow Republican lawmakers.
The insider wrote in an email, "I can
confirm he's making calls for Speaker."
A forum slated for Monday afternoon will give
potential speakers the chance to present their case in front of the public.
According to acting speaker Patrick McHenry, this gives those candidates the
weekend to launch their campaigns. The next nomination vote might happen as
soon as Tuesday.
Competition is anticipated for Emmer.
Reps. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma and Mike Johnson of
Louisiana are also calling constituents to ask for help in their bids to become
speakers. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, said he is thinking about running,
while Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., indicated he intends to do the same.
Emmer has built contacts with a variety of
Republican House members as both the majority whip and the former head of the
NRCC. However, Emmer's friendship with former President Donald Trump, who
vehemently supported Jordan's aborted bid to become speaker, is chilly.
Emmer voted in favor of certifying the 2020
elections, unlike Scalise or Jordan. Additionally, he recommended candidates,
in his capacity as the chairman of the NRCC, to distance themselves from Trump
if doing so would help them win.
McCarthy's removal has rendered the US House of
Representatives helpless and unable to do any business. Additionally, it has
led to strife, anxiety, and finger-pointing among GOP members.
The roughly 20 Republican members who did not
support Jordan during his fight for the speakership received threatening social
media remarks and rude phone calls. Death threats were also made against
several of them and their family members.
Also targeted was Rep. Pete Stauber, R-8th
District, who first supported Jordan but later chose to back Rep. Bruce
Westerman, R-Ark. Despite not receiving any death threats, a spokeswoman for
Stauber's office said that her office forwarded one call to Capitol Police.