Power Players: Meet the House Republicans Vying for Speaker

The race for House speaker intensifies this week as new candidates emerge after Rep. Jim Jordans departure. Among the nine candidates, some are newcomers while others have previously participated in the ongoing battle to elect a new speaker, either after Kevin McCarthy's removal or during the lengthy January race to replace the former speaker.

Rep. Tom Emmer

In a letter shared with his colleagues on Saturday, Emmer, the House majority whip, expressed his intention to seek the speakership in order to bring about "historic change." McCarthy has thrown his support behind the Minnesota Republican, providing an early boost to his candidacy.

McCarthy praised Emmer, emphasizing his presence during their successes and urging his conference to elect him by the end of the week. McCarthy noted that Emmer stood out among the other contenders, stating that he was ready to assume the role of Speaker without the need for a learning curve. McCarthy made these remarks during his appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Emmer, who voted to certify the 2020 election, in opposition to former President Donald Trump, may encounter opposition from certain House Freedom Caucus members who are skeptical of the current GOP leadership team and have been criticized by Trump's supporters.

Having been elected to Congress in 2014 and assuming the position of majority whip this year, Emmer previously ran for Minnesota governor in 2010 and served as a state representative from 2004 to 2008. He currently serves on the Financial Services Committee.

Rep. Kevin Hern

On Friday, the influential Republican Study Committee chairman, an Oklahoma Republican, announced his intention to run for speaker and expressed determination to gain support.

Hern leads the Republican Study Committee, a conservative group.

Earlier this month, members of the House Freedom Caucus, who are known for their staunch conservative views, suggested Hern as a potential candidate for the position of speaker. Furthermore, during the speaker election in January, Hern, whose caucus holds significant influence with a large number of GOP members, received a few protest votes against McCarthy in the eighth round of voting.

Hern, according to his House biography, joined the House in 2018 following a successful tenure in multiple leadership roles at McDonald's. Additionally, he has experience as an aerospace engineer. Hern currently serves as a member of the House Ways and Means committee and holds the role of co-chair for both the Small Business and Franchise caucuses.

Rep. Jack Bergman

Bergman, a 40-year veteran of the US Marines, is actively competing for the position of speaker.

"In a statement, he declared, 'I have entered the race with full determination and believe I can secure the necessary votes, where others may have faltered. My sole intention is to prioritize the well-being of our Nation and ensure stability for the 118th Congress, without any favoritism.'"

The Michigan lawmaker, according to his office, achieved the position of lieutenant general in the US Marines before retiring. This makes him the most senior combat veteran to ever serve in the House. In 2016, he was elected to represent Michigan's 1st District. Additionally, he is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and holds the role of chair for the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee.

Rep. Austin Scott

According to his spokesperson, the Georgia Republican, who initially challenged Jordan but withdrew and subsequently endorsed him, has decided to enter the speaker race once more given the current vacancies in the field, as reported by CNN.

The congressman, serving for seven terms, has strongly supported and defended McCarthy. He has criticized the Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy from his position as speaker. Following his completion of a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia, Scott ventured into the insurance brokerage industry, owning and managing a firm for 20 years. In 1997, he commenced his political journey in the Georgia House of Representatives and continued until his election to Congress in 2010.

Scott, who represents Georgia's 8th Congressional District, is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Agriculture Committee.

Rep. Byron Donalds

The Florida Republican and member of the Freedom Caucus declared on X his candidacy for the speakership with the aim to promote a "conservative vision for the House of Representatives and the American people."

In a show of dissatisfaction with McCarthy, Donalds also garnered votes from the far-right members of the GOP in January.

He is currently serving his second term, having won his initial Congressional election in 2020, following the departure of GOP Rep. Francis Rooney from Floridas 19th Congressional District.

In his inaugural campaign, Donalds portrayed himself in an advertisement as a "Black man who supports Trump, owns guns, cherishes liberty, advocates for pro-life views, and embraces politically incorrect notions."

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Rep. Mike Johnson

The House Republican conference vice chairman from Louisiana, who also serves as a deputy whip for the House GOP, declared his candidacy for speaker in a letter to his Republican colleagues on Saturday. In the letter, he stated that he has decided to step forward after careful consideration and prayer. Johnson, who was elected to the House in 2016 and previously held the position of chairman for the Republican Study Committee, is seeking the role of speaker.

Johnson sits on the House Judiciary Committee, Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and on the House Armed Services Committee.

Rep. Pete Sessions

Sessions of Texas declared his bid for candidacy on Friday in a statement shared on X, portraying himself as a "unifying conservative leader for the Conference."

Having assumed the role of Chair for the National Republican Congressional Committee between 2009 and 2012, as well as the House Rules Committee from 2013 to 2019, he presently holds positions on the Financial Services and Oversight and Reform Committees.

In 2018, Sessions lost the fiercely contested race for the Dallas-area seat he had held since 2003 to Democrat Colin Allred. However, he won a district in Waco, Texas in 2020.

In 2019, Sessions briefly faced a scandal when associates of Trump ally Rudy Giuliani urged him to remove the US Ambassador to Ukraine, who had been critical of Trump. Interestingly, these same associates were providing financial support to Sessions' campaign. Despite the controversy, Sessions was not accused of any wrongdoing.

Rep. Dan Meuser

The Pennsylvania Republican was announced as a candidate for the job by House GOP conference chair Elise Stefanik on Sunday.

First elected in 2018, Meuser had previously been chosen as the secretary of revenue for Pennsylvania in 2011 by former Gov. Tom Corbett, as stated by his office.

Meuser actively participates in the Financial Services and Small Business Committees, taking on the role of chairman for the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access. Additionally, he is a dedicated member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Rep. Gary Palmer

Palmer of Alabama has also entered the race.

In 2014, he was elected to represent Alabama's 6th District and currently holds the position of chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. Additionally, Palmer is a member of the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, as well as Energy and Commerce.

During the 2017 congressional Republican baseball practice, Palmer was playing shortstop when House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, along with other participants, were tragically shot. As a result, Scalise, who was previously considered the Republicans' preferred candidate for speaker, decided not to run again due to the GOP's inability to unite behind him.

CNNs Shania Shelton, Haley Talbot and Melanie Zanona contributed to this report.