The race for the speaker's gavel has become more complex as Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has dropped out and several other Republicans have entered the race.
One candidate who has gained favorable backing is Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., who announced his candidacy on Friday. Emmer has already received a major endorsement from former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who was ousted by a group of Republicans voting with House Democrats.
It remains to be seen if Emmer can succeed where Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., failed in uniting the various factions within the GOP. McCarthy believes Emmer is the right person for the job, stating that he can unite the conference and understands the dynamics and requirements of winning and maintaining a majority.
In a letter to Republican members of Congress, Emmer expressed his determination to fight for the House majority and deliver on the conservative agenda. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, communication, and respect in building on the success Republicans had in regaining the House majority in 2022 and achieving legislative victories.
Emmer's allies also highlight his fundraising abilities. He raised $9.2 million for House races in the 2022 election cycle, including over $3.1 million for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which he led at the time. In 2023, Emmer has already raised $7.6 million for the 2024 election cycle.
However, Emmer may face opposition from the hard-right side of the Republican caucus. Reports suggest that former President Trump, who endorsed Jordan for speaker, is urging members not to vote for Emmer. The impact of Trump's influence on the speaker race remains uncertain.
Emmer, an attorney, former hockey player and coach, father of seven, and the No. 3 GOP lawmaker in the House, assumed the whip position from Scalise. He describes himself as a "team guy" from a "big hockey factory." Emmer learned negotiation skills through his work as an attorney, but it was starting a youth hockey team in Delano, Minnesota, in the 1990s that taught him how to bring people together.
Emmer recalls the challenges of getting competing entities to collaborate, similar to the dynamics in Congress. Over the years, the program he started in a town that was initially unrecognized in the sport has consistently achieved state championships.
Emmer's interest in politics was sparked in the early 1990s when he and his wife, Jackie, were living in a converted country hotel with centuries-old oak and maple trees. When the local public works team marked the trees for removal to make way for a new road, Emmer's wife was devastated. He called the mayor, who drove to their property late at night in his old Cadillac Fleetwood and used his influence to save the trees by moving the road.
This incident made Emmer realize the power of getting involved in local politics. He became motivated to run after facing unnecessary assessments for a sewer line that he didn't need or want.
Emmer's candidacy comes after Jordan's unsuccessful third bid for the speaker's gavel. House Republicans are now starting from scratch to select a new candidate for speaker. A number of Republicans have emerged as potential candidates, and they will participate in a candidate forum on Monday before a conference-wide election via secret anonymous ballot on Tuesday.
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