Deeply divided Republican lawmakers are currently facing a leadership crisis in the House of Representatives as they try to select a nominee for speaker for the third time. After two previous candidates failed to garner enough support within the party, Republicans held a closed-door candidate forum on Monday evening with nine lawmakers vying for the nomination. However, Rep. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania dropped out of the race during the forum, citing his commitment to President Trump’s campaign in Pennsylvania. This leaves a total of eight candidates remaining. An internal party vote is scheduled for Tuesday morning to choose the next GOP nominee.
The House has been without a leader for over two weeks, leading to a paralyzed Congress and a looming deadline to avoid a government shutdown on November 17. President Joe Biden has urged lawmakers to pass urgent security assistance for Israel and Ukraine. Interim House Speaker Patrick McHenry has expressed his desire for the nominee to face a House vote as early as Tuesday.
The Republicans’ previous nominees, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, both withdrew from the race after failing to secure enough GOP votes. It remains uncertain whether any of the eight remaining candidates will be successful.
In contrast, Democrats have united behind House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York as their nominee. With the party’s narrow majority in the House, the GOP nominee can only afford to lose four Republican votes.
Among the eight Republican candidates, only two, Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota and Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia, voted to certify President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. The other candidates objected to the results in either Arizona or Pennsylvania, or both. All candidates also voted against establishing a commission to investigate the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Additionally, five of the candidates voted in favor of temporary spending legislation in September to prevent a government shutdown.
Here are the eight Republican candidates:
1. Tom Emmer of Minnesota:
Rep. Tom Emmer has received the endorsement of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California. McCarthy believes Emmer stands out among the candidates and emphasizes the need to unite the party. Emmer voted to certify the 2020 election results and supported government funding in September.
2. Austin Scott of Georgia:
Rep. Austin Scott previously ran against Rep. Jim Jordan for the GOP nomination but lost. After Jordan withdrew, Scott expressed his intention to re-enter the race. He believes that if Republicans want to act as the majority, they must do so by following the right path. Scott also voted to certify the 2020 election results and supported government funding in September.
3. Jack Bergman of Michigan:
Retired Marine Corps officer Rep. Jack Bergman criticized Republicans for leaving Washington without electing a speaker. He emphasized the importance of passing spending legislation to avoid a government shutdown and called for Congress to remain in session until a speaker is elected. Bergman objected to the 2020 election results and voted for government funding in September.
4. Byron Donalds of Florida:
Rep. Byron Donalds, a member of the Freedom Caucus, was previously nominated multiple times in January to block Kevin McCarthy’s bid for speaker. Donalds objected to the 2020 election results and did not vote on government funding in September.
5. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma:
Chairman of the Republican study committee, Rep. Kevin Hern emphasized the need for Republicans to support the selected nominee in order to avoid chaos. He believes it is crucial to retain the House majority and restore American leadership. Hern objected to the 2020 election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania and voted against government funding in September.
6. Mike Johnson of Louisiana:
Deputy whip and vice chairman of the Republican conference, Rep. Mike Johnson previously refrained from running for speaker out of respect for other candidates. He now calls for a consensus candidate who can responsibly lead. Johnson objected to the 2020 election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania and voted against government funding in September.
7. Gary Palmer of Alabama:
Chairman of the House Republicans’ policy committee, Rep. Gary Palmer expressed his commitment to bridging internal divisions within the party. He objected to the 2020 election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania and voted against government funding in September.
8. Pete Sessions of Texas:
Rep. Pete Sessions, who previously served as chairman of the House Republican campaign arm, highlighted border security as a top priority if elected speaker. Sessions suggested tying government funding to the construction of the southern border wall. He objected to the 2020 election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Republicans must now come together and select a nominee who can rally the party and effectively lead the House. The GOP’s decision will have significant implications for the party’s unity and ability to govern.
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