Floodgates open as members run for speaker following Jordan rejection by House GOP

With the House Republican Conference voting to remove Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) as its speaker nominee, the floodgates have opened as members start to make calls and announce they are running for speaker of the House.

At least nine Republicans so far have either announced their candidacy, have called other members about a bid, or are mulling whether to run. The candidate forum will be on Monday at 6 p.m., and the election process will begin Tuesday at 9 a.m., Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) said. He also plans to start voting on the floor on Tuesday.

HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE VOTES TO ABANDON JORDAN AS SPEAKER NOMINEE

Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) was considering a bid as well, with several lawmakers previously floating his name as a possible option for days. Green bowed out Friday night.

Members have until Sunday at noon to submit their names as candidates for speaker.

Tom Emmer

Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) is already making calls as he considers a bid for speaker, according to a source close to the Minnesota Republican. If he runs, Emmer would become the immediate front-runner as the highest-ranking Republican in the race, and he’s already been endorsed by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Emmer faced staunch opposition from those in former President Donald Trump’s orbit when he ran for House majority whip against Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), and that opposition is expected to continue.

One source close to Trumpworld said that “Trumpworld will unleash hell on [Emmer] if he runs; he is anti-Trump, and Trump orbit will not let him hold the speaker gavel.”

House Republicans are set to adjourn for the weekend before returning on Monday evening to host a candidate forum, during which declared candidates will debate before holding a vote on Tuesday. Here’s a list of who else is considering a bid or has already announced:

Kevin Hern

Shortly after Jordan was removed as the party’s nominee, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) announced he would run for speaker. Hern previously considered a speakership bid earlier this month against Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Jordan but later decided against it.

“We just had two Speaker Designates go down,” Hern, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, said in a statement. “We must unify and do it fast. I’ve spoken to every member of the conference over the last few weeks. We need a different type of leader who has a proven track record of success, which is why I’m running for Speaker of the House.”

Hern has spent a lot of time talking to members over the last two weeks to sell them on his record as he previously eyed a bid for majority leader in the case Scalise was elected speaker. Scalise later dropped out of the race, announcing he would remain the majority leader.

Mike Johnson

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has also begun making calls to members as he considers a speakership bid, according to his spokeswoman Corinne Day.

Johnson could benefit from name recognition as he serves as the vice chairman of the GOP conference and as a member of the powerful Judiciary Committee.

Pete Sessions

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) announced he would run for speaker shortly after Republicans emerged from their closed-door meeting on Friday, according to a statement.

Sessions has experience serving in a number of leadership positions for the party, including as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee from 2009 to 2012 and leader of the House Rules Committee from 2013 to 2019.

Austin Scott 

Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) announced he would run on Friday afternoon, following through with his bid last week when he challenged Jordan for the nomination after Scalise dropped out of the race. Jordan won the nomination in a 124-81 vote, showing a sign of momentum for Scott considering he announced his bid just hours before the vote was held.

“If we are going to be the majority, we need to act like the majority, and that means we have to do the right things the right way,” Scott said in a statement. “I supported and voted for Rep. Jim Jordan to be the Speaker of the House. Now that he has withdrawn I am running again to be the Speaker of the House.”

Byron Donalds

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), a prominent member of the House Freedom Caucus and Florida delegation, is also floating a run for speaker.

Donalds has already garnered a number of endorsements from his colleagues, including Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Cory Mills (R-FL).

“I supported [Jordan] for our next Speaker,” Mills said in a statement. “Unfortunately my votes for him on the floor and in conference to remain Speaker designate was not enough. I now support [Donalds] for the next Speaker of the House.”

Roger Williams

Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), the chairman of the House Small Business Committee, is considering a bid for speaker and is traveling home to talk about it with his family, according to a source familiar with his thinking.

Williams has been a member of the House since 2013.

Jack Bergman

Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) announced he would run for speaker, touting his national security experience as a Marine veteran and ability to work across the aisle.

“My hat is in the ring, and I feel confident I can win the votes where others could not,” he said in a statement. “The regular functioning of the federal government can’t wait on useless infighting and arguments.”

Jodey Arrington

Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) is considering a run for speaker, telling reporters he would need to speak with his wife before making a decision.

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“I would say I am seriously considering and still praying about it,” he said on Friday.

Arrington has been floated as a possible contender over the last two weeks, especially among the Texas GOP delegation. Texas Republicans met on Friday morning to consider a possible bid for Arrington, according to a source familiar with the talks, although many members who emerged from the meeting wouldn’t answer whether they’d back his bid.