House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and his allies are making calls about a potential speakership bid, according to two Republicans with direct knowledge of the matter.

Emmer, the No. 3 House Republican, will be the highest-ranking candidate in the race to become the GOP’s third speaker nominee. But he’ll face a more crowded field than failed contenders Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan did. Roughly a dozen House Republicans are expected to throw their names in the ring, severely splitting the vote ahead of a candidate forum on Monday night.

Emmer was expected to seek the majority leader position if the role became open thanks to Scalise’s ascendancy, but after the Louisiana Republican failed to get the gavel — blocked in part by Jordan’s allies — the Minnesotan pivoted.

As a former chair of the House GOP campaign arm, a post that requires strong knowledge of individual districts and good relationships throughout the party, Emmer brings a built-in advantage to the speaker race. The Minnesotan has another asset: friends in the House Freedom Caucus, including Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).

But Emmer will face liabilities as well. Perhaps chief among them is lingering bad blood between his camp and Trump world, which has left some Republicans to wonder if embracing Emmer could invite the ire of the influential former president and his team. (Emmer is the highest-ranking House Republican in leadership who voted to certify President Joe Biden’s election win.)

Trump endorsed Jordan for speaker before the Ohio Republican’s candidacy failed. Emmer, like Scalise, has not formally endorsed Trump’s 2024 primary bid.

Reps. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), the chair of the Republican Study Committee, and Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the vice chair of the GOP conference, are also making calls as well seeking support for speaker bids.

Candidates have until noon on Sunday to declare. But those who are serious about running will likely move quickly to announce in order to lock in commitments.

The resulting delay means Republicans will go without a speaker for more than 20 days, at least.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and his allies are making calls about a potential speakership bid, according to two Republicans with direct knowledge of the matter.
Emmer, the No. 3 House Republican, will be the highest-ranking candidate in the race to become the GOP’s third speaker nominee. But he’ll face a more crowded field than failed contenders Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan did. Roughly a dozen House Republicans are expected to throw their names in the ring, severely splitting the vote ahead of a candidate forum on Monday night.
Emmer was expected to seek the majority leader position if the role became open thanks to Scalise’s ascendancy, but after the Louisiana Republican failed to get the gavel — blocked in part by Jordan’s allies — the Minnesotan pivoted.
As a former chair of the House GOP campaign arm, a post that requires strong knowledge of individual districts and good relationships throughout the party, Emmer brings a built-in advantage to the speaker race. The Minnesotan has another asset: friends in the House Freedom Caucus, including Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).
But Emmer will face liabilities as well. Perhaps chief among them is lingering bad blood between his camp and Trump world, which has left some Republicans to wonder if embracing Emmer could invite the ire of the influential former president and his team. (Emmer is the highest-ranking House Republican in leadership who voted to certify President Joe Biden’s election win.)
Trump endorsed Jordan for speaker before the Ohio Republican’s candidacy failed. Emmer, like Scalise, has not formally endorsed Trump’s 2024 primary bid.
Reps. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), the chair of the Republican Study Committee, and Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the vice chair of the GOP conference, are also making calls as well seeking support for speaker bids.
Candidates have until noon on Sunday to declare. But those who are serious about running will likely move quickly to announce in order to lock in commitments.
The resulting delay means Republicans will go without a speaker for more than 20 days, at least.