GOP Speaker Nominee Saga Continues: Mike Johnson Chosen Following Tom Emmer's Unexpected Exit

Rep. Mike Johnson has been named the House GOP's latest nominee for Speaker, a decision made on Tuesday evening. However, Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, is currently short of the 217 votes necessary to secure the speakership. This comes as yet another indication that the Republicans have not progressed in their pursuit of a new Speaker, even three weeks subsequent to Kevin McCarthy's unprecedented removal.

The events of the day were dramatic as earlier, Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer had been chosen as the GOP's speaker nominee. Shockingly, Emmer opted to withdraw merely hours following the decision. This abrupt change was catalyzed by stiff opposition from the party's right-wing faction and a notable denouncement from ex-President Donald Trump.

During the conclusive secret-ballot vote, Johnson clinched the nominee title with 128 votes. McCarthy, trailing behind, garnered 43 votes. Notably, some GOP members are pointing fingers at McCarthy, suggesting he might have hampered Johnson's progress. There were even suggestions prior to the evening vote about a potential partnership between McCarthy and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan to break the deadlock. The proposal was for McCarthy to reassume the Speaker role and designate Jordan as the “assistant speaker.”

Johnson, however, achieved a significant breakthrough by passing a pivotal vote later on Tuesday. He then declared that a full House vote for the Speaker position would take place on Wednesday at noon ET.

The GOP is grappling with an increasing urgency to designate a leader, as the House is currently stalled without governance. Finding a successor to McCarthy has been an uphill battle, stemming from the internal divisions within the party. Notably, Jordan was removed as the nominee after three unsuccessful attempts.

Emmer's path as the third GOP nominee for Speaker was short-lived, as he too couldn't amass the required votes. Despite his initial selection through a secret ballot on Tuesday, Emmer was met with immediate resistance from the right section of the GOP and a sharp critique from Trump. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump labeled Emmer a “Globalist RINO,” cautioning that supporting him would be detrimental. Trump later took credit for influencing Emmer's decision to bow out.

Significant to Emmer's contentious candidacy were his decisions on key issues, such as certifying the 2020 election results and supporting the same-sex marriage codification. Members of Trump's inner circle also contacted GOP members, advocating against Emmer's nomination.

Despite these tensions, Emmer commented on his cordial relations with Trump post their weekend phone conversation.

In the aftermath of Emmer's abrupt exit, Republican Rep. Steve Womack from Arkansas highlighted the party's predicament, expressing doubt about the GOP's ability to reconcile their internal differences and finalize a Speaker.

Womack remarked, “The current state is a glaring demonstration to Americans that the GOP is deeply fragmented. Although overcoming this seems challenging, it's never wise to rule out possibilities. However, present indications suggest a pronounced stalemate within the conference.”