Latest update, 10/25/2023, 2:12 PM ET, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Lousiana) has now officially been voted (220-209) as the 56th Speaker of the House of Representatives.
10/25 10:00 AM ET: The House of Representatives is scheduled to have a vote around noon today on the nomination of Rep. Mike Johnson to be the next Speaker of the House. Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) issued a statement of support saying:
“Rep. Mike Johnson is an inspiring choice for Speaker of the House. His serious, sincere and principled leadership has made him shine in every endeavor he has undertaken in his time in public service and in House leadership. We urge all members to unite behind Rep. Johnson and confirm him on the Senate floor as soon as possible so that the House can get back to the numerous urgent matters it has pending on behalf of the American people.”
10/24 10:00 PM: The majority of House Republicans have selected Rep. Mike Johnson as their next speaker nominee. They are expected to vote privately in the morning to see if Rep. Johnson has the the 217 votes he needs to win the gavel. Let us continue to lift the House in prayer!
10/24 7:00 PM: No vote is expected on the House Floor tonight. The GOP conference is set to have another private vote to nominate a new candidate at 8 p.m.
10/24, 5:15 PM ET: Rep. Tom Emmer has dropped out of the race, failing to obtain the support needed. New candidates must file their intention to run by 5:30 PM, when a new candidate forum is expected before another internal vote.
Tuesday, October 24, 1:30PM ET: Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) has won the internal vote to become the Speaker of the House. Reports say 26 members did not vote for him, either abstaining or voting for another candidate. A vote on the floor is expected any moment.
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The search for a new Speaker of the House began anew following the Republican conference’s withdrawal of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as its speaker nominee late last week. On Sunday, October 22, at noon, the opportunity for other House members to submit their candidacy for Speaker of the House came to a close. Nine Republican members successfully announced their Speaker candidacy, including, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (Minnesota 6), Republican Conference Vice Chair Mike Johnson (Louisiana 4), Rep. Kevin Hern (Oklahoma 1), Rep. Byron Donalds (Florida 19), Rep. Austin Scott (Georgia 8), Rep. Jack Bergman (Michigan 1), Rep. Pete Sessions (Texas 17), Rep. Gary Palmer (Alabama 6), and Rep. Dan Meuser (Pennsylvania 9).
Each candidate will participate in an internal forum tonight, October 23, at 6:30 p.m. This presentation will serve as the opportunity for the nine candidates to share with their fellow Republicans why they should be the next Speaker of the House. An internal election will follow the forum where the least voted for candidate will be dropped from the ballot until only one candidate remains.
Tonight will be the third internal election the party has held since Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-California) was vacated over 20 days ago. Last week, Rep. Jim Jordan went to the House floor three times but never received 217 votes to secure the Speakership. It became evident that Rep. Jordan would not be able to flip some of the members who live in more centric or Biden-won districts, especially as each subsequent floor vote resulted in more members voting no. After a third vote on Friday, October 19, where only 194 members voted for Jordan on the House floor, the Republican party held another internal meeting and election where Jordan lost the support as the Speaker-designate. The members were sent home to their districts Friday after the internal election and were made aware of this week’s schedule.
Because of this, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Nebraska 1) has proposed a pledge for all candidates to sign, vowing to support whoever the Speaker-designate is, following the process. Eight of the nine candidates have signed the pledge.
Please continue to pray for the next Speaker. As you do, remember that a candidate would need 217 of the 221 Republican votes in the House to be elected. With the Democrats unified behind House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York 8), the next Speaker will need to unify the Republican caucus decisively if they are to avoid the same fate as previous nominees.
Once again, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) continues to call for unity among members to select a new Speaker as soon as possible so that our elected representatives on both sides of the aisle may focus on the many challenges facing our nation at this critical hour.