The House GOP is set on Oct. 24 to put forth—for the fourth time—a nominee to be speaker of the House.
Earlier today, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, the most recent speaker-designee after beating eight candidates, dropped out after not being able to cobble the needed 217 votes to succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and become second in line to the presidency.
Last week, after three ballots, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) failed to win the gavel. The House GOP booted him as their speaker-designee and went home for the weekend.
The week before that, House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), the second speaker nominee, withdrew his bid after it became apparent he wouldn’t secure enough votes on the floor to win the gavel.
Voting on the nominee has taken place via secret ballot. There have been multiple rounds of voting where the candidate who received the least number of votes was eliminated from contention. This has been done until there is one candidate left or if a candidate gets 111 votes, which is more than half of the 221 members of the House GOP conference.
Follow below for live updates. All times are Eastern.
GOP ‘United’ Behind Johnson–10:47 p.m.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the speaker-designee, has the necessary 217 votes to become speaker, according to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas).
“This House Republican majority is united,” said Mr. Johnson.
“We are united!” said a unison of the House GOP conference.
A floor vote is scheduled for noon on Oct 25 as the House looks to finally have a speaker after three weeks of having a speaker pro tempore, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.).
There were 19 absences, while Reps. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and French Hill (R-Ark.) voted present.
Roll Call Underway–10:12 p.m.
A roll call is being taken to see how many at the candidate forum support Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the speaker-designee.Johnson Wins–9:55 p.m.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), vice chair of the House GOP conference, won the nomination and is the GOP’s fourth speaker-designee since Mr. McCarthy’s ouster. However, he does not yet have the 217 votes to win the gavel.Two More Candidates Out–9:35 p.m.
Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) withdrew from the race, while Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) was eliminated in the second secret ballot during tonight’s candidate forum. A third secret balloting is underway.First Candidate Eliminated–9:06 p.m.
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) was eliminated in the first secret ballot during tonight’s candidate forum. A second secret balloting is underway.Voting Underway–8:53 p.m.
The first secret ballot in the House GOP’s fourth attempt to put forth a speaker-designee has begun. The candidates are:- Byron Donalds (R-Fla.)
- Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.)
- Mark Green (R-Tenn.)
- Kevin Hern (R-Okla.)
- Mike Johnson (R-La.)
- Roger Williams (R-Texas)
GOP Congressman: Johnson Poised to Lose 30 Votes–8:21 p.m.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the perceived frontrunner in the fourth GOP attempt at having a speaker to succeed Mr. McCarthy, “uniquely positioned to lose 30 votes on either side of the conference,” said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who said he will support Mr. Jordan even though he is not in the race anymore.Eliminating Candidates Tonight–7:43 p.m.
The House GOP will winnow out the candidates until there is a nominee, per Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.). Mr. Norman noted that Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) asked the conference if there is anyone that’s “a hard no” regarding anyone running for speaker. No one raised their hand.“That’s not been done,” said Mr. Norman. “That’s a good thing. He did a good thing.”
Mr. Norman said there will be a nominee by the end of the candidate forum.
Candidate Drops Out–6:29 p.m.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) has dropped out of his second bid for speaker and endorsed Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.).Hern told reporters that Johnson would “make a great speaker” as “he’s a great human being” and trustworthy.
6 Candidates–5:59 p.m.
Here are the 6 candidates who’ve thrown their hat in the ring:- Byron Donalds (R-Fla.)
- Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.)
- Mark Green (R-Tenn.)
- Kevin Hern (R-Okla.)
- Mike Johnson (R-La.)
- Roger Williams (R-Texas)
Candidate Forum at 6 p.m. –5:38 p.m.
The GOP conference is set to hold another candidate forum this evening, its second in 24 hours.Candidates had until 5.30 p.m. to announce their bids.
Tom Emmer Drops Out–4:26 p.m.
Mr. Emmer has withdrawn from the speaker race, multiple sources told The Epoch Times.The move came after more than 20 colleagues and former President Donald Trump opposed his run for speaker.
He’s now the third GOP speaker nominee in three weeks to have failed in their bid for the gavel.
House GOP to Meet Again–2:46 p.m.
The House GOP is scheduled to have another conference at 4 p.m. This comes as Mr. Emmer does not have enough votes to secure the gavel.Trump Comes Out Against Emmer–2:45 p.m.
Former President Donald Trump has come out against Mr. Emmer’s speaker bid — after having said he would not get involved in the race.“I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement, or the breadth and scope of MAGA—MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he posted on his social media site, Truth Social.
Roll Call Vote Finishes—1:18 p.m.
A roll call has concluded as Mr. Emmer, the GOP speaker-designee, had 28 holdouts, according to Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas). That is more than enough to sink his bid if all Democrats vote with them. Mr. Emmer needs 217 votes to win the gavel.GOP Congressman: Emmer Has 20–25 GOP Holdouts–1:01 p.m.
Mr. Emmer has between 20 and 25 GOP holdouts, according to Reps. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) and Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas). Mr. Emmer can only afford to lose four of the 221 Republicans on the House floor, where a vote is expected this afternoon.GOP Congressman: Emmer Has Around 10 Holdouts—12:43 p.m.
Mr. Emmer, despite winning the GOP conference nomination for speaker, has around 10 holdouts, according to Mr. Meuser. A floor vote is expected soon as Mr. Emmer will need 217 votes to secure the gavel.Floor Vote This Afternoon–12:26 p.m.
The House will hold a floor vote for speaker this afternoon, lawmakers confirmed. Mr. Emmer will need to secure about 217 votes to win the gavel.Who is Tom Emmer?—12:21 p.m.
Mr. Emmer, the House majority whip, has represented Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District since 2015. Between 2019 and 2023, he led the House GOP’s campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee. During that time, the GOP took back the House in November 2022, albeit just barely, as a decisive “red wave” had been widely expected.A stern no-nonsense figure and hockey enthusiast, he sits on the House Financial Services Committee, which is chaired by Mr. McHenry.
“Our constituents who sent us all to Washington to lead are counting on us to undo the damage Democrats have done and expand our conservative majority,” Mr. Emmer wrote in an Oct. 21 letter to colleagues announcing his speaker bid. “We must come together for the good of the American people and ensure that our best days are ahead.”
However, at least some in the Make America Great Again (MAGA) faction of the GOP don’t support him.
Mr. Emmer, 62, is one of two Republican candidates to have voted to certify the 2020 election, although he signed onto a lawsuit challenging the 2020 election in a handful of key states.
Also, unlike most of the other Republican contenders, as pointed out by Punchbowl News, Mr. Emmer supported the debt ceiling agreement earlier this year and the continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government and is the only one to have voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would require states to recognize same-sex marriages in other states were the Supreme Court’s decision to make same-sex marriage the law of the land overturned.
Before entering Congress, Mr. Emmer, who is married and the father of seven children, served in the Minnesota House of Representatives and on city councils and practiced law.
GOP Picks Nominee–12:17 p.m.
Mr. Emmer won after five ballots, defeating Mr. Johnson, according to House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). He will need 217 votes to get the gavel.4th Candidate Eliminated and Another Dropout–11:53 a.m.
Mr. Hern was eliminated on the fourth secret ballot, according to House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). Ballot number five is being taken. Mr. Donalds dropped out. Two candidates remain.3rd Candidate Eliminated–11:20 a.m.
Mr. Scott was eliminated on the third secret ballot, according to House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). Ballot number four is being taken. Four candidates remain.2nd Candidate Eliminated–10:54 a.m.
Mr. Bergman was eliminated on the second secret ballot, according to House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). Ballot number three is being taken. Five candidates remain.First Candidate Eliminated–10:27 a.m.
Mr. Sessions was eliminated on the first secret ballot, according to House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). Ballot number two is being taken. Six candidates remain.Mr. Emmer got the most votes with 78, per Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.).
Balloting begins–9:56 a.m.
The first secret ballot is being taken. There are seven candidates.There will be multiple rounds of voting where the candidate who receives the least number of votes is eliminated from contention. This will be done until there is one candidate left or if a candidate gets 111 votes, which is more than half of the 221 members of the House GOP conference.
Candidate Drops Out–9:40 a.m.
Mr. Palmer has dropped out of the running for speaker. Seven GOP candidates remain.“Congress and the American people needed a Republican Speaker three weeks ago. If withdrawing my name can help expedite that process even a little, then I will gladly step aside,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“I will work with the next speaker on the ideas I have laid out so that Congress can come together and do the job the American people sent us here to do. With this in mind, I am withdrawing my name from consideration for Speaker,” he added.
Who’s Nominating Who–9:16 a.m.
House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) released on X, formerly Twitter, the list of those who will be giving the nominating speeches in conference for the GOP speaker candidates:- Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) for Mr. Bergman
- Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.) for Mr. Donalds
- Rep. Brad Finstad for Mr. Emmer
- Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) for Mr. Hern
- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) for Mr. Johnson
- Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) for Mr. Palmer
- Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) for Mr. Scott
- Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) for Mr. Sessions.
Candidate Predicts Speaker at End of Day–8:59 a.m.
Mr. Johnson predicted to reporters that there will be a House speaker after what has been a three-week absence. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) will give the nominating speech for Mr. Johnson in conference.Ryusuke Abe contributed to this report.
