Power Struggle Intensifies: Nine Republican Candidates Battle for Speaker as House Enters Third Week

With the House now in its third week without a speaker, a dozen Republicans are competing for the support of their conference to become the new gavel bearer, further adding to the already uncertain atmosphere in the chamber. Rep. Jim Jordan's withdrawal from the race has prompted the conference to continue their search for a nominee, as the House Republicans remain without a speaker following the earlier removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy.

Nine House Republicans, including GOP Whip Tom Emmer, are running for the position, according to House GOP conference chair Rep. Elise Stefanik. Emmer, who has received endorsement from McCarthy, has made efforts to garner support from various ideological and geographical backgrounds within the conference, which some House Republicans believe gives him an advantage, as per GOP sources. However, he may face opposition from allies of former President Donald Trump who have criticized him for voting to certify the 2020 election.

In order to secure the support of their respective conferences, the speaker hopefuls have been busy making phone calls over the weekend. This is in preparation for a candidate forum expected to take place on Monday evening, followed by a secret-ballot election on Tuesday.

These are the other GOP representatives running for speaker:

Jack Bergman of Michigan, a retired 40-year veteran of the US Marines.

Byron Donalds from Florida, a lawmaker in his second term who is affiliated with the far-right Freedom Caucus.

Kevin Hern from Oklahoma, the leader of the Republican Study Committee, a conservative group that holds significant influence over a large group of Republican Party members.

Mike Johnson of Louisiana, the vice chairman for the House Republican conference.

Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Gary Palmer, the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, hails from Alabama.

Austin Scott, a seven-term ally of McCarthy from Georgia, recently withdrew from a last-minute challenge against Jordan.

Pete Sessions, a long-standing Texas Republican, faced controversy in the past when he advocated for the removal of the US ambassador to Ukraine, who voiced criticisms against Trump.

As Republicans continue to seek a solution to the deadlock, frustrations and divisions within the conference have deepened. With their slim majority, it is now uncertain if any candidate can gather the necessary 217 votes to become the speaker.

The House is currently paralyzed as it faces the looming possibility of a government shutdown next month, coupled with the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Within the next month, the government's funding will be depleted, having narrowly escaped a shutdown last month thanks to a temporary funding bill. Negotiations with the White House and the Senate, both under Democratic control, will require the involvement of a speaker.

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Momentum is building for a bill that would provide additional assistance to Israel in its conflict with Hamas. President Joe Biden has requested a $105 billion package from Congress, which would include aid for both Israel and Ukraine. The situation in Ukraine is becoming dire, as they are running out of essential supplies in their battle against Russia's invasion.

The battle for the speakership began earlier this month with a group of conservative hardliners voting to remove McCarthy, a historic event that threw the House into uncharted territory. Following McCarthy's removal, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise's nomination for speakership quickly fell apart when the conference failed to reach a consensus on his candidacy.

Republicans forced Jordan to withdraw from the race on Friday, following his failure to secure the gavel in a floor vote earlier that day. CNN's Clare Foran, Manu Raju, and Zachary B. Wolf contributed to this report.