At least 25 House Republicans opposed Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s selection as the conference’s speaker nominee on Tuesday morning, forcing the Minnesota Republican into a tough push to flip support. Many of those reluctant to support him are familiar faces.
1. Kevin McCarthy detractors: Thirteen of the 21 Republicans who opposed Kevin McCarthy’s eventually successful speakership bid on the floor also opposed Emmer in conference — Reps. Michael Cloud (Texas), Andrew Clyde (Ga.), Andy Ogles (Tenn.), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Scott Perry (Pa.), Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Chip Roy (Texas), Josh Brecheen (Okla.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Mary Miller (Ill.), Keith Self (Texas) and Bob Good (Va.).
2. Former rivals: Rep. Jim Banks (Ind.) lost his bid for whip to Emmer by one vote in November 2022 and voted for Jordan inside conference on Tuesday. After the conference vote, Banks said the House GOP shouldn’t put one of the “most moderate members of the entire Republican conference in the speaker’s chair.”
3. Freedom Caucus chief: Perry, chair of the Freedom Caucus, opposed Emmer in conference, indicating some of the work the Minnesotan will have to do to win over the most conservative members. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), another conservative firebrand, voted for Jordan.
4. Jordan backers: Fifteen of the dissenters voted for Jordan on the conference’s roll call vote gauging support for Emmer. Others, like close Jordan ally Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), voted present.
Other holdouts: Reps. Rick Allen (Ga.), Mike Collins (Ga.), Diana Harshbarger (Tenn.), Ronny Jackson (Texas), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Max Miller (Ohio), Cory Mills (Fla.), Troy Nehls (Texas), Greg Steube (Fla.).
Worth watching: Six members were absent for the roll call vote. Emmer can lose just a handful votes without any Democratic support to prevail on the floor.
And don’t expect Dems to help — yet: Republicans haven’t expressed any openness to wheeling and dealing with Democrats even if a sufficient number of them were open to dealing. And many across the aisle think the onus is on Republicans to find their own way out the speakership mess. “It’s up to them to elect a speaker,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), ranking member of the powerful Rules Committee.
Sarah Ferris, Jordain Carney and Daniella Diaz contributed.
