Who's in, who's out of race to become US House of Representatives
speaker?
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[October 21, 2023]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top job in the U.S. House of
Representatives remained vacant on Friday, after hardline Republican Jim
Jordan failed in his third bid for the gavel and dropped out of the
race.
Here are some lawmakers being considered for speaker of the chamber,
which has been without a leader since Oct. 3:
IN: KEVIN HERN
Representative Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, chairman of the conservative
Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus in Congress, kicked off
his run for speaker minutes after Jordan said he had dropped out of the
race, although the Oklahoma lawmaker did not win any votes in Friday's
contest.
IN: AUSTIN SCOTT
Representative Austin Scott, a Georgia lawmaker who has kept a
relatively low profile in his 12 years in Congress, also launched his
candidacy on Friday, after he challenged Jordan for the nomination last
week and failed. He did not receive any votes on Friday.
IN: PETE SESSIONS
Representative Pete Sessions, a Texas congressman since 1997 who chairs
the House Rules Committee, declared his candidacy on Friday, saying he
has the experience to unite the party.
IN: JACK BERGMAN
Representative Jack Bergman of Michigan, a retired Marine Corps
lieutenant general who has been in congress since 2017, said on Friday
his "hat is in the ring."
IN: HAKEEM JEFFRIES
Democrats have voted unanimously for their leader, Hakeem Jeffries,
though, as the minority party in a chamber controlled 221-212 by
Republicans, they do not have enough votes to elect him speaker.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Oct/21/images/ads/current/lincolnheating_lda_PPP_2023.png)
POSSIBLE: TOM EMMER
Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the House's No. 3 Republican and
chief vote counter, received only one vote on Friday but won ousted
Speaker Kevin McCarthy's endorsement. The former ice hockey coach is
speaking with members about a possible run, a source familiar said.
POSSIBLE: TOM COLE Powerful Rules Committee chair Tom Cole, who has
represented Oklahoma since 2003 as one of only five Native Americans in
Congress, could gain support from Democrats if nominated, although he
has repeatedly tamped down talk of putting his name forward. After
receiving one vote on Tuesday, no votes were cast for him on Friday.
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![](../images/102123PIX/news_s99.jpg)
Representative Kevin Hern (R-OK) speaks to the media ahead of a
House Republican Conference meeting as the Republicans continue to
work to choose a new Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol in
Washington, U.S., October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File
Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Oct/21/images/ads/current/lincolnprinters_lda_PPP_2023.png)
POSSIBLE: BYRON DONALDS
Representative Byron Donalds, a Black Republican from Florida and
member of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, was the choice for two
from his party on Friday, months after he was nominated to challenge
McCarthy for speaker in January.
POSSIBLE: JODEY ARRINGTON
Representative Jodey Arrington, a Texas Republican who is chair of
the House Budget Committee, told reporters on Friday he would make a
decision on whether to seek the speaker's job by Sunday ahead of a
noon EST (1600 GMT) deadline for declarations.
OUT: STEVE SCALISE The Louisiana lawmaker and No. 2 House
Republican, who was widely seen as McCarthy's heir apparent,
received eight votes on Friday, the most of anyone other than
Jordan, after being nominated as speaker last week and withdrawing
after being unable to unify Republicans. Wounded during a baseball
practice in 2017 and being treated for since August for multiple
myeloma, Scalise had faced questions about his health.
OUT: JIM JORDAN
Representative Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee
and a driving force in the impeachment investigation of Democratic
President Joe Biden, lost his third bid for the job after winning
just 194 votes, well short of the 214 he needed, when 25 Republicans
voted against him. After the vote, the Ohio lawmaker and Trump ally
said the party should unite behind a new nominee and he would
support whoever is chosen.
OUT: KEVIN MCCARTHY Representative and former speaker Kevin McCarthy
has sent conflicting signals on whether he would seek the job again.
The California lawmaker netted two votes during Friday's vote.
OUT: PATRICK MCHENRY
Republican Representative Patrick McHenry, acting speaker since
Kevin McCarthy was ousted Oct. 3, received six votes for speaker
during Friday's contest but has not entered the race, though some
Republicans have suggested the North Carolina lawmaker could stay on
and even some Democrats appeared open to him keeping the gavel.
Asked on Friday if he was interested in the job, he said, "I'm not
seeking it."
(Compiled by Katharine Jackson, David Morgan, Andy Sullivan, Makini
Brice and Moira Warburton; Editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell,
David Gregorio and Jonathan Oatis)
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