Rep. Kevin Hern has announced that he will not be running for the position of Speaker of the House. This decision leaves House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as the only two official candidates for the position.
Hern initially considered running for Speaker following the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the role. However, after speaking with his colleagues, he decided to withdraw from the race in order to prevent further division among House Republicans.
Hern stated, “House Republicans must unify – and do it fast. It’s clear to me that a three-man race for Speaker will only draw this process out longer, creating further division which would make it harder for any candidate to reach 217 votes.”
McCarthy’s removal has created a power vacuum in the House at a critical time, as another possible government shutdown looms. McCarthy was able to pass a temporary spending bill with the help of Democratic votes, but this ultimately led to his ousting.
Lawmakers are now scrambling to find a replacement for McCarthy. Temporary speaker Rep. Patrick McHenry has scheduled a candidate forum where Scalise and Jordan will present their cases for the position. A vote will then take place on the House floor to elect a nominee.
While some lawmakers have publicly expressed support for a candidate, there is no clear favorite yet. Many believe that reaching a consensus on a nominee will be challenging, and the race to replace McCarthy may become a lengthy process.
The group of eight Republicans who ousted McCarthy have not yet settled on a candidate they would like to see as speaker.
Hern emphasized the importance of Republican unity, stating, “Whatever happens next, our Conference must commit to stay in the room, turn off our phones, and work together until we have a candidate who can earn 217 Republican votes.” He urged his colleagues to show the world that they are united and ready to fulfill their elected duties.
