The House is scrambling to find a new candidate after Republicans voted Friday not to support House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for speaker.
The decision came after Jordan failed for the third time to receive the 217 votes needed to secure the gavel.
Several Republicans have since announced their candidacies to help, and others have been making calls over the weekend about possible runs. The next candidate will be the third in 17 days to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a historic vote.
House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) was first nominated for the post, but was forced to withdraw the next day due to resistance to his candidacy.
The field of people vying for new candidates is rapidly becoming crowded. The House is scheduled to return Monday night to choose a new nominee.
One rumored candidate is House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota).
Here’s what you need to know about Emmer.
Time in the Minnesota House of Representatives
Prior to his election to Congress, Mr. Emmer served three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011.
During his state service, he served on several committees, including: Health care; welfare policy and oversight, state and local governance reform, technology, elections.
Emmer announced his candidacy for governor in 2009 and received support from former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (Republican).
The gubernatorial race attracted national attention after Target donated $150,000 to a political action committee for advertising in support of Emmer’s candidacy. However, protests erupted over the donation.
Emmer ultimately lost to Democratic challenger Mark Deighton, who served as president until 2019, by less than 1 percentage point.
Operate NRCC for 2nd term as a member of the House of Representatives
Emmer has officially announced that he will seek the Republican nomination for Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, following former U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s announcement that she will vacate her seat.
He received support from several conservative groups, including the Tea Party Express and Young Americans for Liberty, as well as many Minnesota state legislators.
He defeated Joe Perske in the general election, receiving 56 percent of the vote.
Emmer then served two full terms as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) from 2019 to 2023.
be elected majority whip of the House of Representatives
When Republicans won the House majority in the 2022 midterm elections, Emmer ran as House majority candidate and succeeded in winning the coveted seat previously held by Scalise.
The whip is responsible for assisting the party leadership in bringing the party’s bills to the House floor, counting votes on major bills, and maintaining communication between the leadership.
“I am honored to have been asked by my colleagues to serve as Majority Whip. The hard work begins now.” Emmer said in a statement: It was released at that time. “It’s time to unite our conference and deliver on our promises to the American people.”
Emmer, a former hockey coach, said the whip job was “the best coaching job I’ve ever had.”
After Mr. McCarthy was elected speaker of the House in 15 votes during his first week in office, Mr. Emmer said in May that he was ready to change the Republican Party’s mind and rally members to work together.
The whip’s office is also reportedly an important meeting place throughout the year for Republicans grappling with internal divisions.
Rumors swirl about a bid for chairmanship.
Several people came forward to replace Mr. McCarthy after the Republican conference on Friday pushed Jordan aside in a secret ballot.
Emmer is reportedly calling for a possible run for Congress, according to previous reporting by The Hill. If that’s true, he’s likely to emerge as a top candidate.
After Scalise declines, Whipp will become the highest-ranking lawmaker to jockey for the post.
He has endured leadership battles in the past, a fact that could help him secure the gavel.
McCarthy backs Jordan after Jordan’s failure
Even before Emmer officially threw his hat into the ring, he received a huge boost. McCarthy supported him as his successor.
“He’s the right person for the job. He can unite the conference. He understands the dynamics of the conference,” McCarthy told Punchbowl News. “He also understands what it takes to win and maintain a majority.”
Emmer also has support from another Republican ally, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.). Buck refused to endorse Jordan in the full House, voting instead for Emmer.
But the race is still anyone’s game. Members must submit their candidatures by Sunday at noon.
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