Speakership: Divisions in Republican Party Over Emmer’s Candidacy
Republicans have selected Tom Emmer as their third nominee for Speaker of the House of Representatives, following the removal of their previous leader in a right-wing revolt three weeks ago.
The entire chamber will soon vote on the candidacy of the Minnesota congressman, but the outcome remains uncertain.
Emmer emerged as the party’s choice after a series of secret internal ballots. Currently serving as the House Majority Whip, he holds the position of the third-most powerful Republican in the House.
During successive rounds of voting on Tuesday, Emmer prevailed in the final round against Mike Johnson of Louisiana. However, the timing of his nomination going to a House floor vote and whether he can garner enough support to become Speaker remains unclear.
Some hard-line Republicans, including allies of former President Donald Trump, are skeptical of Emmer’s candidacy. Trump criticized Emmer as a “RINO” on his Truth Social media platform, expressing doubts about his suitability.
Texas Republican Andy Webber indicated that Emmer lacks the votes required to win a floor vote, with around 20 or more colleagues opposing him. Given the narrow majority Republicans hold over Democrats in the House, Emmer can’t afford to lose many votes from his own party.
Notably, two previous nominees, Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, failed to secure sufficient support to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy.
Scalise mentioned that a floor vote won’t occur until Emmer believes he has the necessary 217 votes for victory and emphasized ongoing discussions to address concerns within the party.
Several lawmakers who voted against Emmer opted for Jim Jordan, even though he wasn’t a candidate. Jordan urged Republicans to come together to elect a Speaker.
Kentucky’s Brett Guthrie expressed frustration over Republican infighting and noted Emmer’s effort to hold discussions with dissenting members rather than having private meetings and phone calls.
New York Republican Brandon Williams acknowledged the party’s internal divisions but believed they were working to address grievances.
Tom Emmer, a former college ice hockey player and coach, previously chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee and has served in Congress since 2015. He narrowly lost a race for governor in Minnesota in 2010. His vote to certify the 2020 election, which was won by President Joe Biden, strained his relationship with Donald Trump.
Trump’s criticism of Emmer’s candidacy’s impact on his level of support in a floor vote remains uncertain.
A meeting to discuss potential next steps is scheduled for 4:00 PM local time (21:00 BST).
