House Republicans Float New Candidates For Speaker

Politico reports:

House Republicans will meet again at 10 a.m. this morning to take another shot at choosing a new speaker after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise abruptly withdrew from the race last night. Just as the overthrow of McCarthy embittered McCarthy’s supporters and cost Scalise, the defenestration of Scalise has infuriated Scalise allies who are hardening their opposition to Jordan. Who else might enter the race?

Last night, the names being floated included: Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) and acting Speaker Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), who for the first time yesterday cracked open the door to being drafted when he said, “it’s up to the will of the conference.” (As a McCarthy inner-circler, he’ll immediately face a backlash from some of the eight members who voted to overthrow McCarthy.)

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There are signs that Jim Jordan will have the same problem as Steve Scalise (and Kevin McCarthy before him): no path to 217 votes.

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