24 October 2023
WASHINGTON Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, Oct. 24, chose Tom Emmer as their nominee for speaker in a bid to find a consensus candidate as they aim for a third time to fill a leadership vacuum that has paralyzed the chamber for three weeks.
Emmer, who currently serves as the No. 3 Republican in the House, won the nomination in a fifth round of voting, lawmakers said. His next test is to secure 217 votes from the 221-member caucus, a high bar intended to ensure Republicans can elect a speaker without relying on Democratic votes.
Emmer represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, which includes St. Cloud and Benton, Sherburne, Wright and part of Stearns counties, among others. He bested eight other Republicans who had sought the post.
Republicans have already rejected two prior speaker nominees, leaving the chamber leaderless since Oct. 3.
Some lawmakers said they were eager to bury their differences after three weeks of infighting. But others said they would not necessarily line up behind whoever wins the nomination.
“If we’ve got a weak speaker, that’s not going to play well,” said Ralph Norman, a member of the hard right House Freedom Caucus, before the final vote.
Emmer can point to leadership and campaign fundraising experience that normally would make him a strong candidate for the post.
Republicans have already rejected two leaders with those skills. Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker by a small group of Republican insurgents on Oct. 3, and his No. 2, Steve Scalise, dropped his own bid the following week when he was unable to line up enough votes to win the job.
Republicans picked another hard right leader, Jim Jordan, as their nominee last week but dropped him after he lost three floor votes. Some of those who voted against Jordan last reported getting death threats.
‘Not thrilled’
The infighting has left the House unable to respond to President Joe Biden’s $106 billion request for aid to Israel, Ukraine and U.S. border security. Congress will also have to act before a Nov. 17 deadline to fund the U.S. government and avert a partial shutdown.
The uncertainty has also helped to push up the U.S. government’s borrowing costs. The government posted a record $1.7 trillion deficit for the most recent fiscal year, in part due to higher interest payments.
“Washington, D.C., needs a Republican voice right now. We don’t have one,” said Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D. “That’s not anybody else’s fault but the Republican conference in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Republicans control the House by a narrow 221-212 margin, which means they can afford no more than four defections on partisan votes. Some 25 Republicans voted against Jordan’s speaker bid last Friday.
With Democrats united in opposition, Republicans will have to ensure they have 217 votes of their own.
Democrats have said they are open to a compromise candidate that would allow the chamber to function. Many Republicans have said on principle that they would not back somebody who had support from the opposition party.
That could change if Republicans remain deadlocked.
“Every hour that this goes by, members get closer and closer to wanting to try unconventional approaches,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D.
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