Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota has become the latest House Republican to hit a wall in his push to become speaker, as the congressman on Tuesday opted to end his bid for the post.
Emmer had been facing resistance in his effort to become speaker, with more than 20 fellow Republicans indicating that they wouldn’t support him in a vote on the House floor. Former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, also came out against him.
Following his exit, House Republicans were holding another forum for speaker candidates on Tuesday evening, and they were expected to start voting on a new nominee for the job around 8 p.m. Eastern.
The GOP candidates for speaker now are Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Rep. Roger Williams of Texas, according to a post on social media by Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York — who is the No. 4 House Republican. Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma also had thrown his hat in the ring, but he then bowed out and endorsed Johnson, according to multiple published reports.
The House isn’t expected to hold a floor vote on the speaker position on Tuesday night, but it could do that Wednesday.
Emmer, an advocate for cryptocurrencies
BTCUSD,
who has been the No. 3 House Republican, had become his party’s latest nominee for speaker just hours earlier Tuesday, topping Johnson in a ballot around mid-day.
Analysts have been warning that the long process of picking a new speaker is preventing the Republican-run House from addressing crucial matters, such as supporting Israel and passing a budget to avoid a government shutdown next month that could rattle markets
SPX.
The GOP-run House has looked rudderless since Oct. 3, when the chamber voted for the historic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, was tapped on Oct. 11 as the GOP’s nominee for speaker but ended his bid for the post after some colleagues refused to support him, and a second nominee, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, saw his bid flop last week.