Representative Cory Mills (R-FL), one of 26 Republicans to hold out against Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN), told The Floridian publisher Javier Manjarres that he would be sticking with Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL).
After the Republican Conference voted to select Rep. Emmer as their nominee for Speaker of the House. Emmer dropped out of the running
Just a few hours following his nomination, Rep. Emmer dropped out of the race after former President Donald Trump (R) called Emmer a RINO (Republican In Name Only). It also appeared Emmer would not receive enough votes on the House Floor.
To quote Rep. Vern Buchanan (R), President Trump delivered "a kill shot" to Emmer.
I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement, or the breadth and scope of MAGA—MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! He…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) October 24, 2023
“I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement, or the breadth and scope of MAGA—MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! He fought me all the way, and actually spent more time defending Ilhan Omar, than he did me—He is totally out-of-touch with Republican Voters. I believe he has now learned his lesson, because he is saying that he is Pro-Trump all the way, but who can ever be sure? Has he only changed because that’s what it takes to win? The Republican Party cannot take that chance, because that’s not where the America First Voters are. Voting for a Globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake!” said President Trump.
After this message was released by Trump, The Floridian has learned that Rep. Donalds could rethink dropping out of the race. Now, Donalds is back in the race.
Rep. Mills provided his rationale for sticking with Donalds, saying, “My reason for voting against Tom Emmer on the floor is that I’m looking at the strategy and who is best to actually lead the Conference. We have to understand that this is not our great-great grandfather’s Republican Party any longer and that the America First movement has moved us in a way of the conservative party looking for new, diverse, and unique blood to be able to come in and shake things up. Not people who’s been here for 10, 15, 20 years, who’s made lots of backroom deals and promises.”
The Florida congressman mentioned the fact that Rep. Donalds had a different upbringing and more of a diverse background than most members of the party, which could relate to Americans nationwide.
“We need someone who actually has the diverse and unique qualities that represent all of America. I think that the person who has a financial background, who understands what it is to grow up in [the] crime-ridden streets in New York, who was raised by a single mother, and who could actually unite the party – who I’ve seen unite the party on HR 2 Secure the Border Act as well as for HR 1 Low Cost Energy Act and LSG Limit, Save, Grow, has been Byron Donalds,” said Mills. “I’m going to hold that line. I believe that he could actually up us in ’24 to retain the majority as well as demonstrate that we are truly the party of diversity. And we have been. We’re the Frederick Douglass Republican Party. We are the party who has continued to fight for equality across this nation. We are the one who is actually truly representing all of this nation.”
After bringing up Donalds’ diversity in terms of his career and personal life, Mills mentioned the fact that Donalds being African American could make Democrats look hypocritical, saying he was looking forward to seeing “every Democrat on the floor vote against the first Black Speaker of the House."
This is a developing story.
