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GOP Speaker Race in Disarray as Candidates Multiply, No Clear Front-Runner Emerges

Washington, D.C. — Chaos reigns within the House GOP as the party grapples with an unprecedented speaker crisis. After the removal of Jim Jordan as the speaker nominee, a flurry of new candidates, including Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington, and others, have thrown their hats into the ring. The party faces a looming deadline, with Sunday noon marking the cutoff for new nominations, but the absence of a clear frontrunner has left Republicans in disarray.

Rep. Tom Emmer addresses a crowd at a campaign rally for then-President Donald Trump, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in Rochester, Minn. | Bruce Kluckhohn/AP Photo

The sheer number of candidates entering the race has complicated the GOP’s efforts to rally behind a single leader. Emmer, with a reservoir of goodwill from his tenure as the former National Republican Congressional Committee chief, faces challenges, including opposition from some quarters of Trump’s support base.

Adding to the uncertainty is the wild card option presented by Rep. Dave Joyce, who advocates empowering Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry. Despite McHenry’s willingness to take on the role, internal divisions continue to stifle progress.

Amidst the internal strife, the failure of both Jordan and Majority Leader Steve Scalise to garner sufficient support has left Republicans frustrated and disillusioned. Private frustrations have mounted, revealing deep rifts within the party.

The situation has escalated to the point where Jordan’s allies in conservative circles are contemplating public demonstrations against Republicans who did not back him. With Jordan formally out of the race, the fate of these demonstrations remains uncertain, reflecting the overall confusion within the party.

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