Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) won the latest House Republican Speaker nomination Tuesday on the fifth ballot by a 117-97 vote over Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), a sign of the steep challenge he faces to get the necessary 217 votes on the House floor.
His 117 votes are fewer than Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) received when winning his ballot.
The moderate Emmer, who serves as the majority whip, has received the conditional support of at least one Democrat.
The dysfunction in the House is a national and global security issue.
I would sit-out the Speaker vote if Tom Emmer will fund our government at negotiated levels, bring Ukraine and Israel aid bills to the floor, and commit to rules changes to make Congress work for the people.🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/K4VXJIE7aQ
— Rep. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@RepDeanPhillips) October 24, 2023
Emmer may rely on Democrats to win the gavel. While it is unlikely Democrats will vote for him, Capitol Hill is bustling with rumors that Democrats may vote “present” or avoid the vote altogether, in numbers sufficient to lower Emmer’s threshold for victory from 217.
Former President Donald Trump, who had recently endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), took to Truth Social Tuesday before voting to express his displeasure with Emmer.
Trump shared a message saying, “President Trump doesn’t support Tom Emmer, and neither should you!!!”
TRUMP WEIGHS IN ON SPEAKER RACE
Trump retruths attack on @GOPMajorityWhip saying “President Trump doesn’t support Tom Emmer, and neither should you!!!” pic.twitter.com/2A6Pza6l03
— Bradley Jaye (@bradleyajaye) October 24, 2023
Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA) Tuesday morning stated his opposition to Emmer, saying Emmer’s vote in support of gay marriage was disqualifying.
NEWS — RICK ALLEN of Georgia says Emmer’s vote in favor gay marriage is a disqualifier for him.
Sources told us ALLEN is a “Never Emmer.”
ALLEN said “we’ll see” if he could ever support him.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 24, 2023
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) noted that the six members who voted “present” or for other members could be enough to sink Emmer on the floor. “Let’s get our poop in a group people,” he said. “I don’t want us to go out there and in front of the entire world puke on our shoes again. That’s what we’ve been doing.”
Huizenga warning that the six voting present/other is enough to sink nominee if they stick:
“Let’s get our poop in a group people”
“I don’t want us to go out there and in front of the entire world puke on our shoes again. That’s what we’ve been doing”
— Jordain Carney (@jordainc) October 24, 2023
The conference has not announced when it will take Emmer’s nomination to the House floor.
This is a developing story.
Follow Bradley Jaye on Twitter at @BradleyAJaye.
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