It’s Day 20 without a House speaker, and Republicans are starting over. They convened again Monday evening without any idea who will lead and when they will be able to get Congress back to work.

Republicans gathered late in the evening to hear quick speeches from the congressmen seeking the job, though none has a clear shot at the gavel. Eight candidates are in the running for one speaker after one dropped out. Behind closed doors, they made their elevator pitches to colleagues ahead of internal party voting.

Senior-most among the hopefuls is Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, but neither he or the other lower-level Republican lawmakers are expected to quickly secure a majority. Instead he and others are reaching out to Donald Trump for backing ahead of elections to choose a nominee. One, Rep. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, dropped out.

“They all called asking for support,” said Trump, the Republican front-runner in the 2024 presidential race, who was in New Hampshire registering for the state’s primary ballot.

  • Silverseren@kbin.social
    191·
    1 year ago

    The issue is more the upcoming budget that needs to be passed, since Republicans only allowed for the funding bill to be delayed for 45 days.

    Without a speaker by then, I don’t think the bill can even get to the floor.