Rep. Tom Emmer, who currently serves as majority whip, will seek the majority leader position, a source familiar with the situation confirmed with Alpha News.
The Minnesota congressman’s bid to take the number-two spot in GOP leadership comes after Tuesday’s historic ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House.
Current Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced Wednesday that he will seek to replace McCarthy as speaker. Rep. Jim Jordan also plans to run for the speakership.
McCarthy has ruled out a second bid for speaker, effectively ending his years-long run at the top of the House Republican Conference. He was removed after a motion to vacate, introduced by Rep. Matt Gaetz, was backed by eight Republicans and every Democrat who was present for the vote.
“Unfortunately 4% of our conference can join all the Democrats and dictate who can be the Republican speaker in this House,” McCarthy said Tuesday night. “I don’t think that rule is good for the institution, but apparently I’m the only one.”
Emmer and his 3 Republican colleagues from Minnesota opposed the effort to remove McCarthy.
Emmer was first elected in 2014 and previously served as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee. According to NBC News, Republicans will hold their internal elections Oct. 11.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
