OAN’s James Meyers
12:28 PM – Tuesday, October 24, 2023
As the ongoing debacle of electing a House Speaker continues, Republicans have decided on the newest speaker designate.
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In a 117-97 vote on the fifth ballot, Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) defeated Mike Johnson (R-La.). The vote came after Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Kevin Hearn (R-Okla.), Austin Scott (R-GA.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) and Pete Sessions (R-Texas) were eliminated in the earlier rounds of voting.
The newly elected speaker designate comes after the failed speakership bids of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio.).
Both candidates dropped out of the race earlier this month after being unable to receive enough votes to replace ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
Reportedly after Emmer’s victory, House Republicans took a secret ballot vote to see if Emmer would garner the 217 votes to be elected. Leaving the meeting, Republican Steve Womack (R-Ark.), said it was clear Emmer was not close to the number.
Multiple GOP members said over two dozen voted “present” or for someone else.
“It should not be surprising to anyone that there is nobody in that room that is going to be able to get 217 votes as we speak,” Womack told reporters.
In an appearance earlier on NBC’s “Meet the Press NOW,” Womack said, “The world is burning around us, and American leadership is necessary. And you can’t have the full complement of American leadership if the House of Representatives is not functioning.”
It will be an uphill battle for Emmer to receive the 217 votes, with a vote reportedly expected to happen Tuesday evening or Wednesday.
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