Kevin Hern will not run for speaker to give Jordan and Scalise chance to win support

Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) will not be running for speaker at this moment and wants to give the two announced candidates the opportunity to get to 217.

In a letter sent to his colleagues. Hern said it has become “clear” to him that a three-man race for speaker “will only draw this process out longer, creating further division which would make it harder for any candidate to reach 217 votes.”

HOUSE SPEAKER RACE ENDORSEMENT LIVE TRACKER: WHO HAS BACKED WHO SO FAR?

For that reason, he has decided to step back from running for speaker and give House Majority Steve Scalise (R-LA) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) a chance to battle it out.

“Whatever happens next, our Conference must commit to stay in the room, turn off our phones, and work together until we have a candidate who can earn 217 Republican votes. When we leave that room and head to the House floor, we must show the world that we are united in support behind our Speaker and ready to do the work we were elected to do.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Hern spent the past couple of days meeting with, calling, or texting all 221 of his Republican colleagues about a speakership bid. In the letter, he said that while a lot of his colleagues “emphasized the necessity for new blood in our leadership,” he realized that “the need for unity comes first and foremost.”

On Tuesday, there will be a candidate forum for the two speaker candidates, Jordan and Scalise, and then on Wednesday, voting on who the Republican Conference candidate will be is expected to begin. There will be no phones allowed in any of these meetings, and they are strictly member-only.