After Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, failed in his bid to become speaker of the House, a new crop of candidates is jumping into the race.
Nine Republican representatives announced their intention to seek their conference’s nomination for the top job ahead of the Sunday deadline: Jack Bergman of Michigan, Byron Donalds of Florida, Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, Gary Palmer of Alabama, Austin Scott of Georgia and Pete Sessions of Texas.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker earlier this month, following an uprising by far-right members of his own party. The unprecedented move left the House without a replacement, plunging the lower chamber into legislative paralysis with no clear path forward.
As underscored by McCarthy’s unseating and the two unsuccessful campaigns for the gavel that followed, the House Republican conference remains deeply divided. In all three voting rounds to elect Rep. Jordan, the list of Republicans voting against the far-right Ohioan only grew. Before him, Republican Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise failed to garner enough support.
A forum for the contenders will be held on Monday; the vote to narrow down the list of candidates is scheduled for Tuesday.