Speaker sweepstakes: Roger Williams takes himself out of running

Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) has taken himself out of the running for House speaker after taking time to pray on the matter and talk to his family.

Williams, chairman of the House Small Business Committee, was reportedly one of three Texas Republicans mulling a run for the position, alongside Reps. Pete Sessions and Jodey Arrington. Sessions has already confirmed he is running while Arrington is still considering his options.

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“I am humbled and thankful to my colleagues, constituents and supporters who have reached out and encouraged me to run for Speaker of the House over the past several weeks,” Williams said in a statement released Saturday night. “After spending some time with my family in prayer. I have decided that now is not the right time for me to seek this important position.”

He continued: “I have no doubt that we will nominate and elect an outstanding Speaker on the next floor vote.”

So far, seven members have announced they are running for the position to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was ousted from the position more than two weeks ago.

The seven who announced bids so far are Sessions, Reps. Kevin Hern (R-OK), Austin Scott (R-GA), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Jack Bergman (R-MI), and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN).

The floodgates have opened after Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed to convince the party that he was the right man for the job, losing three floor votes last week and subsequently being voted out as speaker designate in a secret ballot.

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Williams, for his part, supported Jordan on the House floor.