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Tom Emmer Wins GOP Speakership Nomination in Close Vote

Tom Emmer secures the House GOP's speakership nomination after a tight series of secret ballots. He now faces the challenging task of winning support from the full House to become the next Speaker of the House.

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) arrives for a House Republican Conference meeting on Capitol Hill on October 24, 2023.

In a grueling set of secret ballots, Tom Emmer emerged as the winner of the House GOP’s speakership nomination. However, doubts remain about whether he can secure near-unanimous GOP support to wield the gavel in the full House.

Emmer, the Republican whip, secured a majority of the conference’s votes, with a tally of 117-97, according to insiders familiar with the process. Despite this victory, there is skepticism regarding his ability to garner the 217 votes necessary for the speakership on the House floor. Emmer has not disclosed his floor strategy, but he aims to avoid a public spectacle by only calling for a floor vote once he has privately secured the required votes.

Challenges Ahead

As the GOP’s chief vote-counter, Emmer has spent nine months navigating the intricacies of gathering support from the Republican conference. His allies argue that this experience could prove valuable in helping him reach the 217-vote threshold, a feat that eluded Rep. Jim Jordan and Majority Whip Steve Scalise earlier this month.

Emmer’s success hinges on winning over a group of GOP members who remain skeptical of his leadership, including allies of former President Donald Trump. However, it remains uncertain whether any House Republican can amass 217 votes at this point, a challenging task that permits no more than four GOP defections.

Time Sensitivity

Frustrated Republicans are keen to resolve their speaker crisis this week, especially given the looming expiration of government funding on November 17. Additionally, Congress must contend with the Biden administration’s emergency spending request of over $100 billion, covering aid to Israel and Ukraine.

Emmer’s supporters, including Kevin McCarthy, highlight his leadership experience, including two tenures as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee. McCarthy said, “Tom Emmer has the foundation, being the NRCC chair and being the whip, that he could jump right into this job.” While the majority whip’s voting record has been critiqued by some conservatives, others acknowledge that “nobody is perfect.”

The outcome of this ongoing saga will determine the future leadership of the House and has significant implications for the GOP’s legislative priorities. It remains to be seen whether Emmer can rally the support needed to become the Speaker of the House.

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