In a stunning twist, US Rep. Tom Emmer withdrawn from House Speaker race, causing disarray within the Republican Party. Emmer’s surprising decision came shortly after he was nominated as the House Republicans’ new candidate for the speakership, further complicating the ongoing turmoil within the party.
Chaos in the House
Emmer’s nomination followed the historic ousting of Kevin McCarthy from the role of Speaker of the House on October 3, leaving the Republican Party in a challenging position. With a razor-thin GOP majority in the House, Emmer could afford to lose only four Republicans. However, 26 Republicans voted against him in a closed-door session, sealing the fate of his nomination.
Former President Donald Trump also played a significant role in Emmer’s withdrawal. Despite a phone call with Trump over the weekend, the former president continued to post negative messages about Emmer on his Truth Social platform, labeling him as a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) and criticizing his lack of loyalty to the “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) agenda.
Policy Disagreements and Divisions
Emmer’s nomination faced opposition from right-wing members of the Republican conference due to his moderate stance on certain issues. He had previously voted for a bipartisan law to avoid a debt default and to codify same-sex marriage, which drew criticism from conservative factions.
One of the most contentious points was Emmer’s decision to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, a move that directly contradicted Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud. Despite Emmer’s history of supporting the former president, he refrained from acknowledging Joe Biden’s victory and criticized the media for its handling of the election.
Emmer’s Background
Tom Emmer was first elected to Congress in 2014 and assumed the role of majority whip earlier in the year. He had previously served as a state representative from 2004 to 2008 and was a candidate for Minnesota governor in 2010. Emmer is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and a former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
As majority whip, Emmer had experience in managing the GOP’s narrow majority and played a pivotal role in negotiations that led to Kevin McCarthy’s election as speaker.
The Search for a New Leader
With Emmer’s withdrawal, House Republicans are once again left without a clear candidate for the role of Speaker of the House. Several members have voiced their frustration with the ongoing divisions within the party, and the search for a unifying leader continues.
The Republican Party faces pressing legislative challenges, including the looming possibility of a government shutdown if funding legislation is not passed by November 17. Additionally, President Joe Biden has requested $105 billion in aid for various purposes, further emphasizing the need for effective leadership within the House.
The party is now exploring a new set of potential candidates, including Byron Donalds of Florida, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Mark Green of Tennessee, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, and Roger Williams of Texas.
As the turmoil within the Republican Party continues, the search for a speaker who can unite the GOP majority and lead the House of Representatives remains a top priority for the party.