Nine Republicans — from the party’s No. 3 leader to an up-and-coming conservative in his second term — are seeking to become the next House speaker, Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., announced shortly after a noon deadline to get in the race passed Sunday.
The exact timing of a vote in the chamber is unclear: Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick T. McHenry, R-N.C., told reporters Friday that his goal was to have a candidate on the floor Tuesday and elect a speaker by the end of the week. The nine contenders will meet with Republican colleagues behind closed doors Monday night to make their pitches ahead of a closed conference vote to pick a nominee Tuesday morning.
But Republicans have already seen two previous nominees in the past three weeks — Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio — drop out after being unable to secure the 217 votes needed on the floor if every member is present and votes for someone.
