Title: Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer Withdraws as Speaker Nominee, Leaving House Republicans in Disarray
By [Author Name]
[Date]
Washington, DC – House Republicans are once again in disarray as Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer dropped his bid for speaker just hours after winning his party’s nomination. This sudden exit from the race highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the GOP in electing a new speaker following Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster three weeks ago.
The withdrawal of Emmer, the third Republican to win the nomination and then exit the race, further deepens the political turmoil within the party. The House remains paralyzed as Republicans struggle to unite and effectively govern amid divisions within their ranks.
Following Emmer’s withdrawal, Republicans are now focusing on five remaining candidates for the position. They include Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Mark Green of Tennessee, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, and Roger Williams of Texas. The party plans to hold a candidate forum on Tuesday evening, with the hope of voting for a new nominee shortly after.
Rep. Mike Gallagher from Wisconsin expressed his belief that a new nominee would be selected promptly after the forum. However, with the division within the party becoming increasingly evident, it remains uncertain if any Republican candidate can obtain the 217 votes required to become the next speaker.
Emmer faced significant opposition from the right flank of his party, as well as a rebuke from former President Donald Trump on social media. Trump’s team reportedly contacted GOP members, urging them to oppose Emmer’s candidacy. Although Emmer had a cordial phone call with the former president over the weekend, Trump continued to attack him on social media after his nomination.
Emmer’s voting record, which included support for issues such as certifying the 2020 election and codifying same-sex marriage, drew criticism from members of the hard-right faction within the party.
The GOP’s impasse in selecting a speaker has raised concerns among Republicans. Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas warned that the party is at an impasse and questioned whether they can resolve their internal differences and find a speaker. He acknowledged that the party’s division is apparent to the American people and that overcoming it will be a significant challenge.
As the GOP conference is hopelessly divided, the path forward for House Republicans remains unclear. The party’s inability to unite behind a successor to McCarthy underscores the deep divisions within their ranks and the challenges they face in effectively governing and leading the House.
UPDATE: This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.
Written by [Author Name] for CNN.