All Eyes on House Republican Speakership Vote

Washington, D.C.- It's all but over. Rep. Emmer, who no appears to have the votes needed,  should win the support of the GOP House Conference in the Republican-led House of Representatives.

House Republicans first elected Kevin McCarthy of California, who was eventually ousted by Florida’s Matt Gaetz, and later failed to elect Ohio’s Jim Jordan. 

In the latest attempt to select a speaker, Republicans will today be voting on eight prospective candidates on subsequent voting rounds until they can narrow it down to one individual. 

The eight candidates were representatives Gary Palmer, Mike Johnson, Tom Emmer, Kevin Hern, Pete Sessions, Byron Donalds, Jack Bergman and Austin Scott.

Floridian Representative Donalds has made headlines as he could potentially become the first-ever African-American speaker, but he has not dropped out of the race.

According to The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres, “Rep. Donalds is largely seen as the counterbalance to the House Democrat’s Hakeem Jeffries, who just so happens to also be African American.”

While Donalds, who is a staunch supporter of Former President Donald Trump, has received various endorsements from Republican colleagues, he is yet to receive the president’s. 

According to CBS, Trump stated during a campaign stop he would not be getting involved in the speakership race.  

"I'm staying above it. I have to right now," the former president said. "But I've spoken to just about all the candidates, there are quite a few of them. And they're terrific people."

Meanwhile, as the Israeli-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia wars continue and with a looming government shutdown, the House has not been able to conduct any business. In effect, absent political leadership, bills and regular house procedures have been stalled. 

Florida’s Matt Gaetz has faced criticism for his role in orchestrating McCarthy’s speakership’s demise and subsequent halt of House proceedings.

Gaetz, however, has remained defiant, claiming that the “fight over the next Republican House speaker isn’t creating the dysfunction, it’s exposing the dysfunction–and its loyal patrons.”

Whether House Republicans will coalesce around a candidate and select a speaker remains uncertain. Yet, as crises worse around the globe, many both at home and abroad are anxiously awaiting for the election results in hopes that the House will resume its functions.