House Republicans huddled behind closed doors Monday night as their nine lawmakers discussed at the GOP conference why they should be the next speaker.
The meeting for almost three hours ended with a legislator, Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.), has dropped out of the race, but no clear front-runner has emerged.
“We have some other great candidates. It’s just about making the speaker’s office as effective as possible,” Meuser said afterward.
“I said, ‘We need to have a fresh start, and we need to respect each other now,'” he said of his speech at the conference, adding to his offer, “We came late. “
The conference’s latest candidate forum comes 20 days after the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the impending speaker nominations of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
Both Scalise and Jordan dropped out of the race for speaker earlier this month after failing to garner enough Republican support to replace McCarthy (R-California).
Listening to Monday’s debate, Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) was confident that someone would be elected to the top spot before Halloween, telling reporters that he believed someone would get the necessary 217 votes by the end of the week.
House Republicans huddled behind closed doors Monday night as their nine lawmakers discussed at the GOP conference why they should be the next speaker. Getty Images Rep. And Meuser dropped out of the race after the three-hour encounter. AP
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who was among dozens of Republicans who refused to support Jordan’s speaker bid, indicated he was confident a new speaker would be chosen by Tuesday night.
“I’m optimistic that by tomorrow night we’ll have a speaker,” Bacon said.
Asked about his vote against Jordan, the Nebraska Republican added, “I feel like there needs to be accountability. That’s why I stand up and do what I do. We have a minority majority kicking out McCarthy.”
Some GOP lawmakers noted that time is of the essence, with the continuing resolution that currently keeps the government open expiring Nov. 17, Russia’s war against Ukraine raging and Israel preparing for a ground attack against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) speaks to reporters on his way to a House Republican candidate forum to make a pitch to become the next GOP Speaker of the House.REUTERS
“I think people in the United States, people in Nebraska that I saw yesterday they’re anxious, they’re concerned,” Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) told reporters about the House disaster. “I spoke to a grown woman who I know is concerned about this. He wants this to be resolved.
“We are bigger than this,” he said. “We are bigger than this grievance that has been going on for a long time.
“I have been here for 16 months. I don’t want to sit in a room and talk about my feelings. I want to elect a speaker of the House, and, I think I speak for everyone in America, It’s time to move on.”
Representative Austin Scott (R-TX) spoke to reporters after the House Republican caucus meeting. AFP via Getty Images Alabama’s Gary Palmer and others sign a solidarity pledge in support of the eventual speaker nominee. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Flood revealed that all nine candidates will attend the meeting — Reps. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Byron Donalds of Florida, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Gary Palmer of Alabama, Austin Scott of Georgia, Pete Sessions of Texas and Meuser — have signed a solidarity pledge to support the eventual speaker candidate.
Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) earlier told reporters, without revealing who he plans to support, “I want to hear from candidates that they understand the value of governing, and that a shutdown will destroy the American economy and the American people.
“These are people that three weeks ago some of them we probably wouldn’t even have mentioned running for speaker,” Molinaro said of the speaker candidates. “So this is an opportunity for them to present not only their vision for Congress and the conference but how they intend to reach 217.”
Follow today’s most important news
Stay up to date with the Evening Update.
Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), who was one of eight House Republicans who joined all Democrats in voting to oust McCarthy, said he wanted the “most conservative” candidate to get the gavel, but like Molinaro and others, would not ‘ Don’t say who he supports.
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) signaled that Donalds, the only member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus in the speaker mix, would be a good choice.
“He’s smart, he’s attractive, he’s young, he’s been in the country house for two, three terms. He served my son – my son would come home and tell me about this incredible young man,” Buchanan told reporters.
Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), another member of the Sunshine State’s congressional delegation, also closed the ranks, announcing her support for the Donalds as well.
“Since his election to Congress, Byron has been a true conservative champion for the Sunshine State and the nation,” Cammack tweeted. “He is a fighter who listens to the American people. He has what it takes to get us back to work and continue the business we were sent here for.”
“While I have the utmost respect for all my colleagues who have submitted their names, it is an honor to support my friend in the nomination for Speaker of the House,” he added.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) speaks to reporters as he leaves a Republican House candidate forum on Capitol Hill on Oct. 23. 2023. Getty Images Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., spoke to reporters after Republicans met to try and decide who to nominate to be the new House speaker.AP
Donalds revealed before the meeting that he had spoken to former President Donald Trump about his offer. Trump has previously endorsed Jordan for the speakership.
“I spoke to the president. I think the president will watch us through our process,” Donalds said. “I think he’s going to be happy with who the next Speaker of the House is going to be.”
Trump, 77, who has been floated as a candidate for speaker himself, said on Monday that “Jesus Christ” is the only person who will not face opposition from House Republicans.
“There’s only one person who can take it all the way,” Trump said in New Hampshire. “You know who that is? Prophet Jesus. If Jesus came down and said ‘I want to be Speaker’ He would have done it. Besides, I don’t see anyone who can guarantee it.”
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) explained what he’s looking for in a speaker but like many lawmakers Monday, he declined to name his preferred candidate.
“We’re going to look at people’s past votes and how they supported or didn’t support New York,” D’Esposito said.
“The difference is very minimal,” said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) on eight candidates. “The best thing we did, we got a really deep bench.”
Hern was found to have the “most pro-limit government voting record on taxes and fiscal policy” among the speaker candidates, according to data from the Institute for Legislative Analysis, a conservative nonprofit group, which gave the Oklahoma Republican “100%.” assessment.
Meanwhile, the group found that Bergman has the most limited government record, voting to “restrain government growth by only 51.61% during that time.”
By comparison, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has a 6.67% rating from conservative groups.
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) argued that the choice Republicans are grappling with is about leadership and not ideology.
Rep. Kevin Hern also signed a pledge of unity to support the eventual speaker candidate.AP
“There’s not a lot of ideological daylight between any of the candidates there,” Fallon told reporters. “It’s just a question of who you think is best to be captain.”
Fallon, along with Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Texas), stated that they will support Johnson for the speakership.
The wannabe speakers rushed to declare their candidacies within hours after Jordan’s efforts failed to win the gavel in three consecutive floor votes last week.
The GOP is facing mounting pressure from the Senate, the White House — and the American public — to resolve the crisis.
McCarthy was voted by eight GOP members to pass a continuing resolution to bipartisanly fund the government to avoid a federal shutdown.
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) arrives at the House Republican candidate forum.Getty Images/Alex Wong
The fight has left many rank-and-file GOP members disillusioned with their preferred leader — and eagerly seeking an alternative.
“There’s a growing frustration with the leadership from every wing,” a source familiar with the situation told The Post, adding that most House Republicans have grown tired of “the dysfunction.
“They all backstab each other; they all hate each other,” the source said.
Each speaker candidate was allotted a two-minute opening speech at Monday’s forum and a one-minute closing speech, sources told The Post.
All potential candidates will also have to field questions from Republican caucus members for 90 minutes during most of the session.
On Tuesday, the Republican caucus will reconvene to place candidates for a runoff at 9 a.m.
“Remember, it’s ‘sudden death,'” said one source. “The candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated with each round until someone gets 50 +1.”
Rep. Matt Gaez (R-Fla.), who sparked conference chaos with his motion to oust McCarthy, said there was at least one “unifying moment” during the forum.
“I was very pleased when each of the candidates said that they supported the immediate full release of the January 6 tapes to the public. So that was a unifying moment,” Gaetz said.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
