House Republicans pick Tom Emmer as new speaker nominee but major challenges remain

Originally Published: 24 OCT 23 05:03 ET Updated: 24 OCT 23 13:14 ET By Clare Foran, Haley Talbot, Kristin Wilson, Lauren Fox and Annie Grayer, CNN

(CNN) — House Republicans on Tuesday picked Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota as their new speaker nominee, though it remains unclear whether he can lock down the votes needed to ultimately win the gavel.

The vote to elect a nominee took place behind closed doors via secret ballot, and Emmer, the House majority whip, prevailed over a crowded field of candidates. Pressure is intensifying on House Republicans to elect a new speaker three weeks after the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as the House has remained in a state of paralysis ever since. But Emmer still faces major challenges ahead.

After winning the nomination, Emmer asked for a roll call vote, a way to put members on the record about where they stand and make clear who opposes his candidacy as he must now attempt to lock down 217 votes.

Rep. Brandon Williams, a New York Republican, told CNN’s Manu Raju there were 26 votes against Emmer during the roll call vote and said that Emmer was trying to resolve the concerns of those members in the room following the vote.

“There were 26 that either voted present or voted for another candidate,” he said.

“It’s like Groundhog Day, but I think there is a lot of interest in getting out of this process, getting onto the floor, getting to a speaker and getting moving.”

Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas said there is “significant opposition” to Emmer in the room. He said it’s going to be up to Emmer to decide if he wants to go to the floor but that he’s going to likely want to meet with holdouts and see how dug in folks are.

McCarthy is backing Emmer, delivering an early boost to his candidacy. But the Minnesota Republican will have an uphill battle as he faces a deeply divided GOP conference and a very narrow majority. Winning a majority of the conference to become the speaker nominee is a lower bar to clear than what’s needed to win the gavel on the floor, which requires a majority of the full chamber.

Emmer, who voted to certify the 2020 election, has also faced criticism from some allies of former President Donald Trump. Despite a cordial phone call with the former president over the weekend, Trump reposted attacks against the House GOP whip on Truth Social Monday night.

Leaving a GOP conference meeting Monday night, Emmer told CNN, “We have a good relationship,” when asked about Trump.

With multiple candidates in the running, members cast a series of successive secret ballots on Tuesday with the candidate with the fewest number of votes in each round dropped from the race. The other candidates who had been in the running were: Reps. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Byron Donalds of Florida, Austin Scott of Georgia, Jack Bergman of Michigan and Pete Sessions of Texas.

Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama withdrew from the race Tuesday morning as Republicans met to cast votes for a nominee.

House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole said on Tuesday that he had more optimism that Republicans will be able to coalesce around a candidate after weeks of “bloodletting.”

“I think people are kind of exhausted a little bit, and the bloodletting is about to stop,” said Cole, an Oklahoma Republican. “I think we’re gonna rally around somebody and have a really good candidate.”

Asked about some hardliners who have been mum when asked if they’d back Emmer if he were the nominee, Cole said at some point members have to decide enough is enough.

“If you want to be in the doghouse forever, this is about as good a way as I know to get there,” he said. “This is a time for people to rally together and get behind whoever wins the majority vote in the conference.”

Republicans gathered on Monday for the candidate forum also behind closed doors. Meuser, who had been in the running, dropped his bid at that meeting.

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul of Texas told CNN’s Manu Raju on Monday, “It’s going to be very difficult, but we have to get there,” when asked how concerned he is that no candidate can get 217 votes on the floor.

And GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida warned that if the eventual nominee can’t get to 217 votes on the floor, the conference may have to work with Democrats.

“It’s, it’s not good. Because a lot of people are gonna want to – with a mind set out there, they don’t want to work with Democrats, but it might end up to be a point where that’s the only way,” Buchanan said. “We’ve got to get the government open. People are very angry, upset.”

This story has updated with updated with additional information and developments.

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