Rep. Tom Emmer Is New GOP Speaker Nominee

Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer won a majority of votes in the GOP conference on Tuesday, becoming the party's newest nominee for speaker, three weeks after Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the position in a historic vote. Emmer's internal election victory, however, is only the start of what may still be a long process to get to 217 votes, the number necessary to win the speaker's gavel. 

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The party's decision to back Emmer came after weeks of infighting and two prior nominees, first, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who withdrew a day later after he was unable to muster enough support to prevail on the floor, and then Jordan, who then failed to garner a majority of support on the House floor in three rounds of voting.

Emmer voted to certify the 2020 election results, a key sticking point among the moderates who refused to back Jordan. 

But Emmer will need to persuade the far-right members of the conference to vote for him on the floor, an uphill battle. 

There were eight contenders after Monday's candidate forum, but Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama announced ahead of the vote that he was dropping out of the race. The seven candidates were then Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Rep. Jack Bergman of Michigan, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia and Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas.

Sessions was eliminated in the first round of voting Tuesday morning, while Emmer received the most votes. Bergman was eliminated in the second round, and Scott in the third round, with Emmer's lead growing. In the fourth round, Emmer remained on top and Johnson second. Donalds and Hern tied last among candidates with 25 votes apiece. Donalds withdrew and Hern also dropped off the ballot, according to lawmakers.