Emmer formally launches bid for speaker, says GOP is at ‘crossroads’

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer has formally launched his bid for Speaker of the House after floating a run for the gavel with allies and colleagues Friday. 

Mr. Emmer, 62, made the announcement in a letter to colleagues Saturday morning. The No. 3 Republican in House management joins the crowded race with the benefit of getting already gained a conference-wide election to develop into majority whip and with the endorsement of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, California Republican. 

So far, six different candidates have formally entered the race for the speaker’s gavel. Those different candidates embrace Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Austin Scott of Georgia, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Pete Sessions of Texas and Jack Bergman of Michigan. 

Mr. Emmer of Minnesota beforehand backed Mr. McCarthy through the movement to vacate and threw help behind House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan of Ohio throughout their respective tenures as convention nominees for the gavel.

Divisions within the House sank each of the earlier nominees.  

The fifth-term lawmaker honed in on what House Republicans have been in a position to accomplish after they have labored as a group regardless of the razor-thin majority that has constantly triggered points for the GOP-led House. 

“We repeatedly beat the odds to pass signature pieces of our agenda on behalf of the American people because we came together despite our razor-thin majority and made sure everyone had a seat at the table,” Mr. Emmer stated. 

He touted the GOP’s Secure the Border Act, which the Senate has not taken up because it was handed in May, and “the first Republican-only” National Defense Authorization Act as examples of the fruits of unity produced by the convention this 12 months. 

Mr. Emmer additionally highlighted his time as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, an arm of the GOP that works to elect conservatives to the House. 

He famous that beneath his watch conservatives picked up seats within the decrease chamber in back-to-back elections regardless of predictions of a Red Wave through the 2022 election cycle, offering a dominant majority within the decrease chamber falling flat. 

Mr. Emmer, together with the opposite half dozen candidates, may have his palms full in making an attempt to unify the fractured GOP to help his bid for the gavel. A supply acquainted confirmed to The Washington Times that he intends to signal a unity pledge to help whoever comes out on prime of the speaker race.