The world of U.S. politics saw a seismic shift with the surprising ouster of Kevin McCarthy from the House speakership, catapulting many possible successors into the limelight to take over the reins. McCarthy’s Tuesday night announcement of not pursuing the speakership set the tone of a race without a clear favorite.
It is no trivial task to ascend to this position; hopefuls aspiring to the gavel must garner a majority approval—218 votes—from their peers present and voting. The search for a McCarthy alternative has begun, with various names having already been touted for the role earlier this year when hardline conservatives endeavored to stifle McCarthy’s stepping up to the gavel. Yet despite McCarthy’s victory then, Tuesday’s ousting proffers a renewed opportunity for rethinking the contenders.
Turning attention to potential successors, one name pitched is House Majority Whip Tom Emmer. Emmer, a Minnesota Republican, stands out amongst others as the GOP lawmakers scramble to elect a fresh speaker. However, though seen as a frontrunner for the position, Emmer expressed support for Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, citing him as a long-standing friend and a suitable candidate for the speakership.
Elected to Congress in 2014, Emmer took on the mantle of majority whip this year. He lost the Minnesota governorship in 2010 to hold the state representative position from 2004-2008. Currently, he is a part of the House Financial Services Committee.
Kevin Hern—a Republican representative from Oklahoma, chair of the Republican Study Committee, and a supporter of conservative values, is considering a serious run for the position, having already garnered interest from multiple members. Hern’s name sparked discussion amid House Freedom Caucus hardliners and received anti-McCarthy protest votes in January’s deadlock. Prior to his 2018 swearing-in to the House, Hern held various leadership roles at McDonalds and worked as an aerospace engineer. He is now part of the House Ways and Means committee and co-chairs the Small Business and Franchise caucuses.
Conservative GOP members are rallying around Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican representative who chairs the influential House Judiciary Committee. Having been suggested by hardliners in January during the tumultuous battle for speakership, Jordan remains open to the possibility of running for speaker. This former firebrand known for his partisan rhetoric during the Benghazi investigations, both Trump impeachments, and thus becoming a significant ally to McCarthy, has begun to present himself as a serious committee chairman, utilizing his committee position to coordinate investigations into various legal actions which involve Donald Trump.
Steve Scalise, Louisiana representative and current House majority leader, has been put forward as a possible candidate, with sources suggesting that he has begun initial outreach for a potential run. Despite having previously resisted hardliner calls to challenge McCarthy for speakership, it was widely expected that Scalise may put himself forward should the opportunity arise. Scalise, a former computer systems engineer who has represented a highly conservative district since May 2008, faced controversy in 2014, having given a speech to a White supremacist group, but later expressed regret, stating it as a ‘mistake’.
