NEW DELHI: House Republicans are revisiting the selection of a candidate for the position of House Speaker, three weeks after the removal of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy led to a state of turmoil within the chamber.Republicans have initiated a fresh round of voting through secret ballots to nominate a candidate. This marks the third such election in as many weeks, and it remains uncertain if any of the new candidates will secure the necessary votes to become Speaker, as reported by NPR.Both Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan were initially named as the party’s nominees, but they withdrew their candidacies due to insufficient support. Scalise withdrew without attempting a floor vote, while Jordan failed on three ballots within the full House.After Representatives Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania and Gary Palmer of Alabama withdrew from the race during a Monday meeting, seven candidates are still in contention. Until a Speaker is elected, the House is unable to advance legislation on the floor, including bills related to providing assistance to Israel and Ukraine, or funding the government beyond November 17.Candidates in the raceJack Bergman, R-Mich.Jack Bergman, a Republican from Michigan, is highlighting his 40 years of military service and his involvement in the Armed Services and Veterans’ committees as part of his campaign. He’s emphasizing that he’s seeking the position only for the remainder of this Congress.Byron Donalds, R-Fla.Elected in 2020, Byron Donalds holds the distinction of being the most junior member among those vying for the position of Speaker. He is a member of the House Freedom Caucus and has rapidly gained prominence in conservative circles. During Kevin McCarthy’s attempt to secure the Speaker position in January, many of McCarthy’s challengers rallied behind Donalds as an alternative option. He has garnered support from the conservative group Tea Party Patriots Action and, if elected, would become the first Black Speaker of the House.Tom Emmer, R-Minn.Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, currently serves as the Republican whip and is considered a leading candidate for the Speaker position. However, he may encounter resistance from conservative hardliners within the conference. Unlike someone like Jordan, Emmer is not as closely aligned with or endorsed by former President Trump. He, along with Rep. Austin Scott, is one of only two candidates who voted to certify the results of the 2020 election. Mike Johnson, R-La.Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, was elected in 2016 and currently serves as the vice chair of the House Republican Conference. He has a legal background and previously held positions in the Louisiana state legislature before joining Congress. Additionally, he is a member of the Judiciary and Armed Services committees.Kevin Hern, R-Okla.Kevin Hern, a Republican from Oklahoma, considered a run for the Speaker position following McCarthy’s removal but did not officially enter the race at that time. Before entering politics, Hern was involved in opening 24 McDonald’s restaurants and worked with the company’s corporate leadership team. He currently chairs the Republican Study Committee, a substantial group of fiscally conservative members. The RSC is often seen as a platform for advancing into leadership roles, with previous chairs including Scalise, Jordan, and Mike Johnson.Austin Scott, R-Ga.Austin Scott, a Republican from Georgia, is making his second attempt in the Speaker’s race this month. He previously contested Jordan for the nomination in the second secret ballot election. Scott, like Emmer, is one of the two candidates who did not object to certifying President Biden’s 2020 electoral college victory.Pete Sessions, R-Tx.Pete Sessions, a Republican from Texas, was first elected in 1996 and is the most experienced candidate in the competition. He has previously held leadership positions as the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is responsible for campaign and fundraising activities for House Republicans.What’s the process?Republicans are set to participate in a multi-round secret ballot election. In each round, the candidate with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated from the race, and the process will continue until a nominee is selected. While this could be a time-consuming process, it could be expedited if candidates voluntarily withdraw from the race and endorse another candidate.Once a nominee is chosen, the critical question will be whether they can secure the support of at least 217 votes on the House floor. There are currently 221 Republicans in the House.Representative Mike Flood, a Republican from Nebraska, introduced a Unity Pledge to ,”put our differences aside and come together.” The pledge outlines that a member commits to backing the party’s nominee when that nominee’s candidacy is presented on the House floor.
