Nine Republican lawmakers have officially declared their candidacy for the position of speaker of the House, amidst a period of legislative paralysis in Congress. The Republican conference will host a candidate forum on Monday evening, followed by a secret ballot vote on Tuesday morning to determine the party’s new nominee for the role. House Republicans have been attempting to elect a new speaker since the departure of Rep. Kevin McCarthy earlier this month. After House Majority Leader Steve Scalise withdrew his candidacy on October 12, Rep. Jim Jordan lost his chance on Friday.
So, who are these nine candidates for speaker of the House? Rep. Elise Stefanik from New York revealed that there was a deadline on Sunday for representatives to announce their candidacy. The lawmakers who met this deadline are Reps. Jack Bergman, Byron Donalds, Tom Emmer, Kevin Hern, Mike Johnson, Dan Meuser, Gary Palmer, Austin Scott, and Pete Sessions. It’s worth noting that, except for Emmer and Scott, all of these candidates voted to decertify the 2020 election shortly after the Capitol riot. Emmer, on the other hand, showed support for a lawsuit to overturn the election results in Georgia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, all of which were states that former President Trump lost.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the individuals running for speaker:
1. Jack Bergman: The Michigan representative, who is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general and businessman, announced his candidacy with the intention of putting the nation’s interests first.
2. Byron Donalds: Supported by his Florida colleagues Reps. Cory Mills and Mario Diaz-Balart, Donalds aims to focus on securing the border and advancing a conservative vision for the House.
3. Tom Emmer: A Minnesota representative and close ally of McCarthy, Emmer joined the race in an effort to bring the Republican conference together and fulfill the conservative agenda that the American people voted for.
4. Kevin Hern: As chair of the conservative Republican Study Committee, the Oklahoma representative believes a change in leadership is necessary to unite the party and build on his proven track record of success.
5. Mike Johnson: Serving as vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, this Louisiana representative aims to provide principled leadership during this critical time.
6. Dan Meuser: Meuser, a Pennsylvania representative, is focused on promoting inclusion in politics and working towards a fiscally responsible budget, energy dominance, and border security.
7. Gary Palmer: Palmer, a member of Congress from Alabama and chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, supported Jordan’s candidacy and plans to forge a positive path as a conservative leader.
8. Austin Scott: The Georgia representative believes that in order to act like a majority, the Republican party must do things the right way. He previously supported Rep. Jim Jordan and has reentered the race following Jordan’s withdrawal.
9. Pete Sessions: Sessions, a previous chairman of the House Rules Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, sees himself as a conservative leader who can unite the Republican Conference.
With nine candidates in the running, it remains to be seen who will secure the Republican nomination for speaker of the House. The decision will greatly impact the future direction and leadership of the party on Capitol Hill.
