[UPDATE 5]
Moderates okay with Mike Johnson?? Two are…
Moderates who opposed HFC pick Jordan like Diaz Balart and Marc Molinaro also praising Johnson as nominee. https://t.co/6Gz0gWrQdH
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) October 25, 2023
[UPDATE 4]
Mike Johnson feels very confident he can get to 217. I love his optimism but we’ve heard it before. That said, I hope he’s right:
Somewhere in this crowd of House Republicans and tired reporters is Speaker-designate Mike Johnson who is addressing the conference.
He vows to “restore trust” as speaker. pic.twitter.com/2hFz3clObx
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) October 25, 2023
JOHNSON said he is “very confident” that he can get 217 votes tomorrow.
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) October 25, 2023
Freedom Caucus folks very happy about Johnson as nominee.
Bob Good: “He’s who we needed all along.”
Dan Bishop: “It’s hard not to like Mike Johnson.”
Andy Ogles: “I think we got a speaker.”
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) October 25, 2023
[UPDATE 3]
19 members didn’t bother to show up for the roll call vote and now Johnson wants to reach out to them, hoping to get to the floor for a vote tomorrow afternoon:
INSIDE THe ROOM — Johnson addresses room and says he wants to reach out to 19 absent members tonight.
No intention to conference. He wants to go to the floor “ASAP” with a floor vote at noon.
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) October 25, 2023
I don’t know how many opposed Johnson, but it sounds like it’s at least 19 and that’s not good for his candidacy.
[UPDATE 2]
The third ballot is over and there is a nominee. It is Mike Johnson from Louisiana:
We have a new speaker designate.
MIKE JOHNSON has 128 votes and is the second GOP nominee of the day.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 25, 2023
But can he get to 217? There is a roll call vote ongoing to figure this out. It would seem unlikely, but we shall see.
[UPDATE 1]
The second ballot is over and Johnson has increased his lead over the other candidates. However ‘other’ is also getting more votes:
“Johnson – 97, Donalds – 31, Green – 21, Williams – 20, Other – 34”
SECOND BALLOT
JOHNSON -97
OTHER – 34
DONALDS – 31
GREEN – 21
WILLIAMS – 20Green drops. Williams out.
Other continues to show strength, a bad sign for Johnson.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 25, 2023
The first secret ballot is over in the Republican caucus and we still don’t have a nominee, but there is a clear winner.
Below is the lineup:
“Johnson – 85, Donalds – 32, Green – 23, Williams – 21, Fleischmann – 10, Other – 31, Present – 2”
NEWS — FIRST BALLOT OF THE EVENING —
Johnson – 85
Donalds – 32
Green – 23
Williams – 21
Fleischmann – 10
Other – 31
Present – 2— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 25, 2023
Notice 31 votes went to ‘other’. That’s likely the RINO caucus and that tells me we still won’t get to 217 when a nominee is chosen.
[EARLIER POST]
After the Emmer disaster this morning – for which I’m grateful that he didn’t win – we now have five candidates running for Republican House Speaker.
Byron Donalds (FL), Chuck Fleischmann (TN), Mark Green (TN), Mike Johnson (LA), and Roger Williams (TX) are the current candidates and they are in a candidate forum now making their cases to be speaker.
5:30 PM was the deadline for announced candidates for Speaker. Candidate Forum at 6 PM.
Officially Announced Candidates to the House Republican Conference include:
Byron Donalds (FL)
Chuck Fleischmann (TN)
Mark Green (TN)
Kevin Hern (OK)
Mike Johnson (LA)
Roger Williams (TX)— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) October 24, 2023
Kevin Hern was on the list, but he has now dropped out of the race and is supporting Mike Johnson.
HERN has dropped his bid for speaker and will support MIKE JOHNSON.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 24, 2023
According to Sherman, Republicans plan on voting tonight in another secret ballot to see who will be the nominee:
HOUSE REPUBLICANS will vote in the conference at 8p tonight.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 24, 2023
If House Republicans select a nominee who has 217 votes in the caucus, they still won’t be voting on the floor tonight:
Meanwhile, this notice has gone out to House members:
“Members are advised that no votes are expected in the House today.”
So even if Republicans do unite behind a new nominee for Speaker this evening, the full House won’t vote on them until tomorrow.
— Taylor Popielarz (@TaylorPopielarz) October 24, 2023
Stay tuned for the news on the future nominee…